Re: Was Re: question on sizing, now fish eyes

[Keith Gerling <keith.gerling@gmail.com>]

I only add the defoamer to the gelatin.  My gum-pigment-sensitizer mix
stays pretty much constant, and is pretty dependable, so I attribute
the inconsistencies that do appear to whatever is underneath the gum.
Whether the substrate is metal, glass or paper, gessoed or not, I
usually end up with a coating of gelatin before I apply the gum
emulsion.  While my technique is often loose and sloppy, it is here,
with the application of the gelatin, that I am most likely to get
burned., so it is here that I slow down and make my very best effort
to be consistent and methodical.  Those things you call fish-eyes?  I
always assumed they were caused by air bubbles in the gelatin and I
get them occasionally with paper, but they are very common and are a
royal pain when I work with gessoed surfaces.  The defoamer helps a
lot.


On Tue, Sep 9, 2008 at 8:24 AM, Christina Z. Anderson
<zphoto@montana.net> wrote:
> Hi Kerik (and Keith),
> Your email made me realize that I might have misinterpreted DJ's original
> post and Keith's below, so a need to clarify:
>
> I'm talking fisheyes in a gum/pigment mix, not the gelatin sizing.  I think
> that DJ was having fisheyes in his gum coating on top of a gelatin size
> hardened with glyoxal.  But you and Keith are talking additions to sizing
> (or are you, Kerik?) to make it smoother, less bubbly, etc.? I do use your
> method of Everclear in my gelatin, about 20ml per liter, Kerik. So I guess
> my question is are you two adding these things to the gelatin sizing only or
> the gum coating as well?
>
> The reason I ask is this: as is always the case with gum, troubleshooting
> explanations will contradict.  I have a host of reasons for fisheyes.
> Insufficient gum in relation to pigment, coating mix too "limpid" or as we
> say thin, yet another says to increase the sensitizer in the mix because it
> is too much sizing for amount of gum used, air bells, medium in some
> watercolors, and those "globules" that are visible under the microscope one
> author says.  If Everclear or Defoamer helps with fisheyes that might say
> something different even than this.
> Chris
>
>
>
> __________________
>
> Christina Z. Anderson
> http://christinaZanderson.com/
> __________________
> ----- Original Message ----- From: <kerik@kerik.com>
> To: <alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca>
> Sent: Monday, September 08, 2008 11:13 AM
> Subject: Re: question on sizing
>
>
> A few drops of Everclear (ethanol) works well, too.
>
> Kerik
> www.kerik.com
>
>
> Original Message:
> -----------------
> From: Keith Gerling keith.gerling@gmail.com
> Date: Mon, 08 Sep 2008 11:45:26 -0500
> To: alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca
> Subject: Re: question on sizing
>
>
> I've had no problem with fish-eyes since I started adding a drop or
> two of Kremer Defoamer (kremer # 78600) to my gelatin.  Judy turned me
> on to this magic elixir many years ago and it seems to make life
> easier.
>
> Keith
>
>
>
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