Re: Gum Bichromate Print Clearing Question

[Judy Seigel <jseigel@panix.com>]

On Tue, 7 Aug 2007, Bruce Campbell wrote:

> Hi list.
>
>  I am just beginning to make some gum prints and have a question 
> concerning print clearing.
>
>  I know some folks clear their prints in either a 1% up to 5% solution 
> of potassium metabisulphite for 2 to 5 minutes.  My question is, do you 
> agitate your print while its in this solution or do you just let it 
> soak.
Hi Bruce, My experience is that in gum clearing, as in life, it never 
hurts to agitate a little, though gently is quite sufficient, in gum 
anyway.  I myself however, rather than do it strictly by time, would do it 
by eye. When it's paper white... enough. And I would also give a plain 
water rinse at the end.

Then again I wouldn't use a clearing bath at all unless I saw visible 
stain.. which is most likely (IME) in weather like this.

Judy

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