Thanks Cor, John and Etienne.
J.
From: etienne garbaux
[mailto:photographeur@nerdshack.com]
Sent: 10 January 2009 01:51
To: alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca
Subject: RE: Albumen paper
John wrote:
I
want to make some albumen paper for printing wetplate negs. What papers are
recommended and what weight? The range of paper here in the UK seems to be
quite limited in comparison to the US, for example I’ve never seen Cranes
here. What qualities does the paper need, buffered, unbuffered etc.
As others have suggested, thin paper is advantageous. I would add that
smoothness (lack of surface texture) is a considerable virtue, as well as a
rather hard finish that is not so absorptive. I have used any number of
papers, some of which were likely buffered, without any difficulty.
(These days, for any alt process, I soak buffered paper in weak HCl to
neutralize it.) Some of the best papers for albumen, in my view, are
drawing papers sold in pads. One of the Bienfang drawing papers was my
favorite, but I do not recall which one. The Crane's Kid Finish suggested
by (other) John works well, but I'm not as fond of the current "pearl
white" as I was of the previous "white." Crane's White
Thesis Paper also works very well, is somewhat thinner, and last I knew is not
watermarked.
Best regards,
etienne