Re: gum mixes
Wow, Henry,
You are the only one I know, now, that mixes gum from lumps. Anyone else
out there? And Kordofan was said to be the best by Demachy. I'm going to
have to check to see where I can find lumps still and try it.
Keep the gum mix stuff coming, y'all!
Chris
Dear Christina,
I use lump gum arabic (labelled Kordofan No.1). Add 70 g gum to 200 ml
deionised water (probably no point at all in using deionised, given the
bits
and pieces in the gum). Leave to dissolve overnight, with occasional
shake.
Resulting bitty liquid filtered through 2 layers of disposable synthetic
household cloth (often called J-cloths in UK) to leave clear, very pale
straw-coloured gum solution. Add a few drops of formalin as preservative.
Gum still in good condition after a year. I seem to find this gum much
easier to print with than lithographer's gum, but haven't done any
objective
tests to see why (or whether) this is so.
Immediately before coating, mix 5 ml gum with small blob (very scientific)
of tube pigment, then add 5 ml saturated potassium dichromate. Enough to
coat 5-6 7x9 inch prints using a hake brush. Occasionally use powder
pigments. I don't do enough printing to warrant keeping stock gum-pigment
solutions, though the advantages are obvious.
Happy Christmas!
Henry
On 23/12/07 18:18, "Christina Z. Anderson" <zphoto@montana.net> wrote:
Dear all,
I'm finishing my section on gum thicknesses, and was wondering a question
or
two of all one-time to inveterate gum printers:
1. How many of you are using premixed gum?
2. If not and you are mixing your own, what dilution are you mixing it
at
exactly--weight of gum into what volume of water, for instance? If it is
300g in a TOTAL volume of 1 liter, or 300g PLUS one liter please
differentiate clearly. If, mixing more than one solution, also state. If
not using gum/pigment 1:1 sensitizer at time of use please note.
Any other practices, I'd love to hear--e.g. using a hydrometer or some
such
thing. Or if you use dry gum at time of use in your sensitized mix and do
not premix a gum solution. Stuff like that. I've got the timeline
almost
finished on gum dilutions from beginning til now and I want the "now" as
in
2007. Hopefully this isn't too pointless, misleading, and confusing!
Chris
__________________
Christina Z. Anderson
Assistant Professor
Photo Option Coordinator
Montana State University
Box 173350
Bozeman, MT 59717
406.994.6219
CZAphotography.com
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