U of S | Mailing List Archive | alt-photo-process-l | RE: The Direct Carbon Fresson/Arvel Processes

RE: The Direct Carbon Fresson/Arvel Processes

John,
I tried saw dust briefly this summer and it was all too messy for me. The few prints that I made were generally flatter and grainier looking. I liked the hypochlorite development better. Not to say that I have done exhaustive research in the area, or became proficcient at it. I have a feeling that saw dust developmnet is best learned from a praticioner.
I am not sure how I picked the hypochlorite (ie. chlorx) idea. I picked it up from either one of the old texts or in one of many direct carbon discussions on this list a few years back.
FOr my tricolor work I use the weaker hypochlorite solution to kind of "clean" the gum to give it a crispier look, or develop overexposed layers. SOmetimes I misjudge the exposure and this technique comes in very handy. These are rather biref treatments as well, coould be as short as 30 seconds. The gum layer that is dried for a few days reacts much slower then freshly coated and exposed layer, but eventuallu you can wash the whole print away.
SOmebody asked about archival properties of paper treated in such way. We will know in 50 years. I have always treated my gum prints to a bisulfite bath at the end. This should neutralise any hypochlorite left. I am not all that worried.
Marek


Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:21:09 +0000
From: john.grocott403@ntlworld.com
Subject: Re: The Direct Carbon Fresson/Arvel Processes
To: alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca

Marek,
            Sounds as if  a very, very, weak bleach solution (Eau de Javelle ) has a very important place in your Direct Carbon Gum process, but not sawdust, of course, as with the Fresson Direct Carbon process. May I, please, ask where you first learned about Javelle ?
 
I do understand the possibility of a complete wash-off of the gum layer if it is not watched carefully, altho I do not use gum, at all, in my process.
 
From your description of your practice it seems highly viable and predictable, especially as you are doing tricolor work with it. Who would want anything else ?
 
One question, please. How do you think the successive layers of pigmented gum are developed by bleaching without disturbing the lower previously developed layers?
  Maybe by coating hardened gelatine as a protective layer between pigment coatings ?
 
Your work has astonished me in the past. Good Luck with further great images.
 
Best wishes.
John - Photographist - London - UK
 

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