Re: Paper for Pt/Pd

[Diana Bloomfield <dhbloomfield@bellsouth.net>]

Hi Jon,

I typically use COT320 for pt/pd, though for some reason the batches  
I've used in the last year haven't been as consistently reliable as  
they used to be, but I do like that paper-- very smooth and heavy  
enough to not be a problem.  I received some free Weston back when  
they were first giving out small packs.  I really didn't like the  
results at all, and it was way too thin for my tastes.  I think I  
gave away the rest of it.  I recently bought some old Opaline from a  
friend who was selling off part of his stockpile; this paper is not  
made anymore, but the few pt/pd prints I've made on it recently  are  
really very nice--  I like it a lot.  I never liked Cranes  
Platinotype-- which, for me, always produced those little black  
spots, and I couldn't clear it to save my life-- no matter what I  
used.  I do think the COT320 (I prefer the white) is a great paper  
for pt/pd, though-- and still made- though everybody seems to be "out  
of stock" at the moment. ??  My very favorite paper for pt/pd and  
cyanotype is Ruscombe Mills Buxton, but I simply can't afford it.  It  
used to be $10 a sheet, which was bad enough, but now I think it's up  
to $20.  Yikes.  I really think it's the most amazing paper I've ever  
used, but I have no idea who can buy it at those prices.

Diana


On Sep 17, 2008, at 7:49 AM, Jon Reid wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> Pretty much my whole Pt/Pd printing experience has been on Arches  
> Platine, both with silver and digitally produced internegatives,  
> with the exception of some experiments with Japanese tissue papers  
> (fun when wet!!). Shortly before moving house earlier this year I  
> purchased some Cranes (Weston) Diploma Parchment after reading that  
> it was a recommended substitute for Cranes Platinotype. I purchased  
> 100 sheets in 11"x14" and packed it away while moving house.
>
> Anyway, after working through winter here producing quite a number  
> of 5"x7" pyro developed negatives and I am keen to start printing  
> with a view to an exhibition. I opened the paper packet for the  
> first time last night and was surprised by how warm it was. It is  
> also lighter than I had thought (it was described in imperial on  
> the Bostick + Sullivan website and i didn't bother to convert it to  
> metric - I just assumed it would be quite heavy). Not only am I not  
> sure that this is the best paper for this series of images - due to  
> the warm tone, but i've realised that I didn't by enough to do the  
> whole series in even an edition of four for an exhibition. I still  
> have plenty of Arches Platine, and I will test print on both stocks  
> this weekend but I wanted to ask, in light of all this, what  
> peoples paper experiences and thoughts are?
>
> Jon