U of S | Mailing List Archive | alt-photo-process-l | Re: Anybody experimented with Argyrotypes?

Re: Anybody experimented with Argyrotypes?

You might try diluting it 1:1 with water. It seems to work a lot better with most papers that way and DMax does not seem to be any lower. However, with good papers such as COT 320, it may be a lot easier to fix and wash thoroughly, and the tones are more smooth. For a cheap paper, Crane's Weston works reasonably well.

Sam

On Apr 20, 2009, at 6:16 PM, Paul Viapiano wrote:

Yes...paper, paper, paper is so important. In fact, I will venture to say that MOST papers do NOT work with this process in any satisfactory way...
 
(hello...bitter...party of one?)
 
Paul
 
PS...did a previous post/reply from me on this subject get posted here? It never showed up on my end...hmmm
 
 
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, April 20, 2009 2:44 PM
Subject: Re: Anybody experimented with Argyrotypes?

My negatives are quite high-contrast as it is so it sounds perfect. Thanks so much for the all advice. I'll write again once I've had a chance to test it all out.

Thaks again,

Fernando Cruz

-- 
Fotografía y diseño.
Fernando Cruz Florez
Para ver mi portafolio entre a: 

fernandocruz.fotografiacolombiana.com
www.fotografiacolombiana.com

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cgcentrodelaimagen/
http://www.elangelcaido.org/muestras/2008/200812fcruz/200812fcruz.html

facebook  fernandocruzf@gmail.com
skype fernandocruzflorez
telefono 57 1 3232287
movil 57 3108686025



2009/4/20 Loris Medici <mail@loris.medici.name>
You need pretty contrasty negatives for Argyrotype. Much more contrasty
than what you'd need for silver gelatin. If your negatives are
exposed/developed for s/g printing, I'm afraid you won't be able to get
nice contrasty/punchy Argyrotypes. (AFAIK, there's some contrast control
with the chemistry but I'm not sure if that will suit negatives optimized
for s/g printing.)

I don't think they're necessarily more stable than any other process
giving colloidal silver image on plain paper - as long as the images are
correctly processed/thoroughly cleared. Especially so when you choose to
tone your images with noble metals.

I had good results with Bergger COT 320 paper (the only paper I had used
for making Argyrotypes). As a rule of thumb, any paper that doesn't give
problems with New Cyanotype is also good for Argyrotypes. Search the web /
list archives for paper information.

If you extremely value image stability (and need the extra protection)
then you should definitely tone your Argyrotypes (or
Vandykes/Kallitypes/Salt Prints) with gold, platinum or palladium. But be
aware that toning for extra longevity comes with the price of changing the
original color of the image.

Regards,
Loris.


20 Nisan 2009, Pazartesi, 11:30 pm tarihinde, fernando cruz florez yazmış:
> Thanks again for the quick response...
> I have some negatives in black and white which I want to use for an
> exhibition using this technique (Argyrotype). I've read a couple of books
> which suggest that this process is more stable than a couple of other
> processes I was considering. Since you've experimented with this process
> are
> there any particular paper types (brands?) which you'd recommed?
>
> I will have to mix the chemicals myself since they're not available
> pre-made
> here in Colombia.
>
> I have some experience with the Bichromate Gum process from when I worked
> in
> Arte 2 Grafico (an artisanal/crafts workshop - http://artedos.com/ ) but
> this is the first time I'm experimenting with this particular process and
> the stability/longevity of the images to be used for the exhibition is
> very
> important.
>
> Any other advice would be very welcome and greatly appreciated.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Fernando Cruz
>
> --
> Fotografía y diseño.
> Fernando Cruz Florez
> Para ver mi portafolio entre a:
>
> fernandocruz.fotografiacolombiana.com
> www.fotografiacolombiana.com
>
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/cgcentrodelaimagen/
> http://www.elangelcaido.org/muestras/2008/200812fcruz/200812fcruz.html
>
> facebook  fernandocruzf@gmail.com
> skype fernandocruzflorez
> telefono 57 1 3232287
> movil 57 3108686025
>
>
>
>
> 2009/4/20 Loris Medici <mail@loris.medici.name>
>
>> Fernando, I did. What exactly do you want to know?
>>
>> The first thing to mention is that it's a very picky process when it
>> comes
>> to paper choices; you have to use the best and purest papers.
>>
>> Also, it's better to tone the image in gold before fixing, if you value
>> longevity that is; colloidal silver in paper is pretty vulnerable... And
>> the color + darkness is beautiful that way. (Pt or Pd toning also is
>> possible, but, personally, I got best results with gold.)
>>
>> It's pretty easy to mix the solution - definitely more complex than
>> Vandykes (if you have to compound silver oxide yourself) but not a big
>> deal. Mix a volume enough for a couple of months (not longer than 5-6
>> months), the solution will deteriorate and silver out as time passes.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Loris.
>>
>>
>> 20 Nisan 2009, Pazartesi, 2:41 am tarihinde, fernando cruz florez
>> yazmış:
>> > ...
>> > I was wondering if there's anybody out there who's worked with
>> Argyrotypes
>> > willing to share their experiences and tips/tricks for the process.
>> > ...
>>
>