This snippet from Nadeau's, ''Gum Dichromate,
and Other Direct Carbon Processes'' 1 9 8 7...'' is as follows,
again.
Quote
'' For a period of about
1 5 years prior to W W 2 the Fabrique de papiers Fresson
commercialized a different direct carbon paper called
''ARVEL'' ( PRIVATE COMMUNICATION FROM THE FRESSON FAMILY
1978) in an attempt to do away with the sawdust
development....................
After exposure, the paper was
soaked in a 3% to 5% solution of Javelle Water (Hence the name
ARVEL , from Javel, a brand name of diluted potassium hypochlorite,
KoC1).
This bleach method has worked very well for me
for many years, probably because gum is not used in my Direct Carbon
process. At the dilution of 25ml to 1 Litre water (1/40 th) there is practically
no odour. Not even as much as when its used in the washing of clothes and drains
etc., in the houshold.
With ARVEL, and my paper, there is no need for attention to
temperature control and the whole procedure, from beginning to end, is
carried out with water at the temperature from the
tap.
Using a water spray which can be varied from broad to fine jet it is possible to
make very minute modifications to both detail and density, if
required.
A visit to the Fressons would be enjoyable but I certainly would not expect to
be able to learn anything from them, on that occasion, which I have not already
been acquainted with from published writings of Jose Ortiz Echague,
Luis Nadeau, Bill Foster, Rafael Montesinos and others.
Judy's PF No. 9 also contains a very clear description of the work of
C. BADRINATHAN which in my humble opinion was wrongly
called, ''The Direct Carbon or Fresson Process,'' ( British
Journal of Photography. May/June 1978 ). Although it is obvously not the
actual Fresson process, the article shows a little of the successful work
which has been done by several others in this area over the years.
I find the Direct Carbon challenge very
enjoyable and great fun.
Ciao..
John - Photographist - London -
UK
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 7:46
PM
Subject: Re: The Fresson/Arvel
Process
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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