Thanks Cor, John and Etienne.
J.
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