on sizing, print yellowing and, um, "rude and unhelpful"

[Judy Seigel <jseigel@panix.com>]

On Wed, 19 Aug 2009, Katharine Thayer wrote:
> Umm, for the record, we were talking about  a specific sizing material, 
> Gamblin PVA Size, applied on a specific paper (Arches bright white. which has 
> a very crisp surface) at full strength, which should have been clear from 
> reading the thread.   Since your post doesn't mention having used this size 
> on this paper, I'm hardly surprised you haven't observed this effect, but not 
> entirely sure how your non-observation is helpful to the discussion.
I was replying to Jeremy's e-mail in which he said he'd "had a number of 
prints ruined by the sizing yellowing when using glyoxal." Also that he 
planned to try Gamblin PVA size... not that he had tried it.

My point was anyway about avoiding the yellowing, as the gelatin sizing is 
widely available, cheap & easy, & the best of many sizings I've tried (tho 
not yet the Gamblin, tho why bother?).

Meanwhile, I mention now, a propos of "yellowing," that I have posted my 
finding that prints hardened in glyoxal, if given a brief following rinse 
(I noted the length of rinse vs. hardening) did not yellow & were still
sufficiently hardened. However, I and others have also pointed out that 
said yellowing, should it otherwise occur, is cleared by an hour (or 
possibly more) soak in plain water.

Meanwhile, the following, among other remarks from Ms. Thayer, suggests 
her lecture on what's "rude and unhelpful" should begin (and end) at home, 
while the idea that my comment, meant to be informal, was "biting anyone's 
head off" is off the wall (unless one's head is VERY loosely anchored or 
other animus obtains).

Which is to say, hey ! If my comment was "biting," her reply would be 
grinding and pulverizing...  Of course I realize it doesn't merit a reply, 
except I'm waiting for something on the stove, and she managed, after all 
these years, to get under my skin again by twisting my words into 
something else...  (I mean I realize that some folks are VERY sensitive, 
but,

> I didn't care for your HEY--READ THE LIST!!! heading; I thought itwas 
> rude and unhelpful.  Jeremy was asking for a specific answer to a 
> specific question, and there were people willing to give him some ideas 
> . There's no reason to bite anyone's head off.  People have a right to 
> have different preferences about the sizing they use.  You and I prefer 
> glyoxal, but not everyone does, and this PVA Size is a good solution for 
> people looking for something else. Katharine
Duh !)

PS. Jeremy: where do you get formaldehyde?

Judy

> On Aug 19, 2009, at 11:43 AM, Jeremy Moore wrote:
>
> > I have read the list, I even went back and searched the archives, but I am 
> > looking for a non-glyoxal solution. Why? I've had a number of prints ruined 
> > by the sizing yellowing when using glyoxal. This yellowing does not wash 
> > out and even printing the day following sizing I have a problem with it. 
> > The glyoxal was purchased from both Bostick and Sullivan and Photo 
> > Formulary with the same result. I switched to formalin sizing and have had 
> > no problems, but now with no spacious (and well-ventilated) garage or porch 
> > location to use for sizing I was curious about other options and what 
> > others are doing.
> > -Jeremy-