As I indicated, MANY people are happy using this paper. But,
no one can guarantee that when you place your order something hasn't changed.
Buying paper is always a crap shoot. That said, I've found this paper more
consistent than most since it replaced its predecessor, Fabriano Uno. One
caveat, I only use the 140 lb version. I don't like prints on cardboard.
:-)
My suggestions for treatment is soak in 5% oxalic acid for 5
to 10 minutes.
Kerik
I have oxalic in the darkroom now so will give that a try first if
I get the Fabriano. The question now is anybody happy using this paper?
I can't buy just one sheet from this distributor, 22x30, so I want to
make sure the paper is the same as when Arentz wrote about it in his book in
2005.
David
On Nov 13, 2009, at 5:18 PM, Kerik wrote:
I know Loris' results are different, but oxalic acid has
worked extremely well for me and dozens and dozens of students since I began
using this approach about eight years ago. My paper is never
gritty. For me in here in the US, oxalic acid is cheap, easy to
get and IMO much safer to have around than HCl.
Kerik
Thanks.
Was also hoping that I would get a recommendation for this particular
paper. I found a wholesaler I deal with that was giving me a very
deep discount on this particular paper and thought I would capitalize on
it. Just don't want to end up with a paper that has changed and is
no longer useful for pt/pd printing. I did get some of the lame
Platine and don't want to go through that again.
David
On Nov 13, 2009, at 2:27 PM, Loris Medici wrote:
Soak in 2%-5% hydrochloric acid for at least 2-3 minutes (until
no fizzing/bubbles to be precise) and rinse well later. You'll have
a very nice paper for pt/pd and gumovers...
If you find HCl
objectionable you may also use dilute (as above) acetic acid, or (as
a last resort) oxalic acid. Most printers (including masters such as
Dick Arentz and Kerik Kouklis) use oxalic with good results but I
don't find it well suited to the job since it made a gritty paper for
me. (I also don't find calcium carbonate and oxalic acid compatible
because the resulting salt is insoluble and will remain in paper
whereas HCl or acetic acid will make soluble calcium salts which will
leave the paper + HCl will dissolve small bits of iron/metal in paper
- if present - which is detrimental to the process.) Moreover,
another cause why I prefer it is the fact that HCl is very very cheap
and readily available (concentrated/pure or already diluted for
cleaning/decalcification/pH control purposes, many off the shelf
products) in my location (Turkey) - may not be so to you.
Hope
this
helps, Loris.
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