U of S | Mailing List Archive | alt-photo-process-l | Re: Vandyke Question

Re: Vandyke Question



In my Alternative Process class today, we learned to do Vandykes. We were told 
to gently warm solution C before adding to the combined A and B. MIght  try a 
warm/hot water tempering bath.

Gary

On Friday 22 February 2008 16:19, Scott Wainer wrote:
> Good day List,
>
> I recently decided to print some images in vandyke and found a 2 year old
> bottle of sensitizer hidden on the shelf. Thinking it was too old to use, I
> mixed up a new batch only to find that when I added part c the sensitizer
> turned cloudy and eventually separated with a clear liquid on top and a
> grayish tan sludge on the bottom. I tried making a second batch thinking I
> added part c too fast but I got the same result. I thought the water I
> distilled might have been contaminated so I tried again with store bought
> distilled water and it happened again. Frustrated, I ordered all new
> chemicals from Artcraft and tried again today - same result. If I let the
> sensitizer sit for 24 hours then filter it I get a clear liquid which lacks
> contrast and is rather thin density wise. Anybody know what's going on
> here?
>
> My formula is:
>
> Part A
> 9 gm - Ferric Ammonium Citrate
> 33 ml - distilled water
>
> Part B
> 1.5 gm - Tartaric Acid
> 33 ml - distilled water
>
> Part C
> 3.8 gm - Silver Nitrate
> 33 ml - distilled water
>
> Mix parts a, b, & c separately. Add part b to part a slowly with constant
> stirring. Add part C very slowly with constant stirring.
>
> Any help would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Best to all - Scott