First, the Fresson's have guarded their process very well and very little factual information is available.
However, I visited the Atelier Fresson in 2003 and one area of the workshop they freely shared was the development area. They employ a sawdust slurry for development without the use of Javelle (which would have been very evident by its distinctive odor). You can also view the Fresson Video which is available at the Roland Collection web site which clearly shows the use of a sawdust slurry. Furthermore, the pre WWII sale of their printing paper included instructions which made use of two brief water soakings at different temperatures followed by the use of a sawdust slurry. Their prescribed development is what I use on my paper.
If Dick Sullivan is out there, he has also toured the Fresson workshop and may be able to provide another knowledgeable opinion.
In 2004 Judy Seigel published several articles on the Fresson Process in Issue (? . . . I am out of town) of Post-Factory Photography which would be a worthwhile read.
In my own testing on my paper I did not care for the bleach technique or result. The use of sawdust is superior in that it provides a great deal of localized control as well as a smoother looking tonal transition which I feel improves the aesthetics. Also, working with even a dilute bleach solution is not exactly a lot of fun.
I hope this helps.
Sincerely, Art
On Tue, 27 Nov 2007 10:05:07 +0000, John Grocott wrote
>
> Chris and ALL,
> The diulution of 25ml Houshold Bleach ( Sodium Hypochlorite) to oneLitre of water should not give anyone the heebeegeebees. It is a very weak solution but obviously does soften the gelatine sufficiently to allow the surplus pigment to be sprayed off of the print.
>
> Fresson paper is not available on the market, any more. So the only experience I have with Javelle is with my own concoctions. The Fressons may be able to answer your question whether they use sawdust or Javelle. Their w/s will give details of how to contact them.
>
> There are no immediate plans on my agenda to make the process I use available on the market. But like yourself I am willing to help others to experiment with the Direct Carbon system by pointing them towards relevant published information.
>
> See Judy's Post Factory . Issue No 9 for an outline of Fresson ( Direct Carbon ) research.
>
> Ciao for now.
> John - Photographist - London - UK
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> From: "Christina Z. Anderson" <zphoto@montana.net>
> To: <alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2007 1:30 AM
> Subject: Re: The Fresson / Arvel Process,Etc., and Eau de Javelle
>
> > John,
> > Then we have 2 different formulae; the Javelle formula I have is 250ml water
> > with 4g. sodium carbonate and 3 grams sodium hypochlorite and at time of use
> > mixed with another 250ml water....a different solution than you are saying,
> > below.
> >
> > I wonder if they use this with Fresson paper or not, because the point of
> > the article was that using this made the use of sawdust unnecessary. Or, as
> > the article says, "outdated." Eau de Javel he says is due to G. Schweitzer,
> > editor of Photo-Revue. Uses a long print exposure (up to twentyfold that of
> > normal carbon tissue) and put it face down in this bath 2-5 min, etc. etc.
> >
> > But you have done Fresson, I am assuming, so probably know much more than I.
> > Chris
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "John Grocott" <john.grocott403@ntlworld.com>
> > To: "The List" <alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca>
> > Sent: Monday, November 26, 2007 2:29 PM
> > Subject: The Fresson / Arvel Process,Etc., and Eau de Javelle
> >
> >
> >> Chris and ALL,
> >> Chris, you thought, '' So if one mixed a little washing soda
> >> into the bleach it should approximate Javelle''.
> >> NO ! !
> >> Please note that only one ounce of KoCl (bleach ) is diluted with 36
> >> ounces of water to give a working solution which is Eau de Javelle for
> >> the Fresson / Arvel process.
> >>
> >> Happy hunting .
> >>
> >> John - Photographist - London - UK
> >> ........................................................................................
> >>
> >> To clarify a little further and to quote the next para in Nadeau's, ''Gum
> >> Dichromate.'' 1987. Page 76 Chapter V1:-
> >>
> >> ''Mouret, mentioning the work of Charles W . Miller writes :
> >>
> >> ''Early in the morning, he places a piece of sensitized Fresson paper in
> >> contact with a paper negative outside of the window, and leaves it there
> >> all day long without the least inspection. In the evening, he transfers
> >> the paper into the cold water bath for 4 minutes and then into another
> >> tray containing a mixture of 1 ounce of Javelle water and 3 6 ounces of
> >> ordinary tap water. Now the paper must be watched very carefully, and as
> >> soon as the edges begin to lighten it must be instantly removed and placed
> >> either on a glass or tin plate, or in an empty tray. It may now be
> >> sprayed carefully under the tap, or better with the aid of a rubber hose
> >> carrying a glass or hard rubber tip, to enable the operator to direct a
> >> fine jet of water just at the point where it is momentarily required. The
> >> entire surface must be treated in this fashion, until the desired degree
> >> of density has been reached, whereupon the picture may be hung up for
> >> drying.''
> >>
> >> Charles M. Mouret. ''The Fresson Direct Carbon Printing Process'', The
> >> American Annual of Photography. (1929 ) pp 179 -182 ''
> >>
>
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