[alt-photo] Re: toning a kallitype with LiPd or CsPd

[Don Bryant]

Chris,

One can substitute LiPd for Sodium Palladium, as sold from B&S which I think
is a 15% solution, in toning formulas such as the one listed in Sandy King's
article on Kallitype printing found on Ed Buffalo's Unblinking Eye website.
The effect will be similar or close to what one sees when using sodium
palladium. 

What you will not be able to achieve is some type of mimicking of the
Ziatype process with this toning method (or any other toning method).

The toning of silver with a more noble metal is discussed in Sandy's article
and yes I've toned VDB's with palladium and no they aren't exactly a poor
man's palladium print.

What your student needs to do is to print and tone some kallitypes and if
possible make some palladium prints to compare the difference. There aren't
exactly equivalent but can look very similar to each other. Making a good
kalli without staining can be difficult though some people seem to never
have the staining issue.

In my kallitype workshops we spend a lot of time toning with combinations
and orders of gold, palladium, and selenium toners. This is where the Weston
paper comes in handy - it's cheap!

As you say about gum printing the student needs to spend time printing and
experimenting knowing that failures will lead to discoveries and interesting
prints after the basic print making regimen is learned.

First things first, learn to make the basic kalli without toning and to have
verification of a good PAC which they have derived from proper and careful
testing.

Good luck,

Don