[alt-photo] Re: Van Dyk sediment

[Loris Medici]

1. Yes.
2. Filter it out.
3. The black stuff is - probably - elementary silver; in later stages,
you'll also see mirroring in the internal sides of the bottle...

No adverse effect, but the loss of silver will eventually affect your images
(less silver = weaker image, in terms of density...), you'll know it then,
and you'll mix fresh sensitizer.

Hope this helps,
Loris.

P.S. How old is the sensitizer? BTW...


-----Original Message-----
From: alt-photo-process-list-bounces at lists.altphotolist.org On Behalf Of
Harry Lock
Sent: Friday, August 06, 2010 8:37 AM
To: The alternative photographic processes mailing list
Subject: [alt-photo] Van Dyk sediment

Hi All

Some time ago I bought a bottle (brown) of mixed solution for van Dyk
prints. I used it and all was fine. Now I see there is a black sediment in
the bottle. I have tried using the solution by pouring very carefully, as
not to mix in the black sediment, and the prints look good.

My questions are:

1. Should I continue using the solution?
2. Should I try to mix-in the sediment, or put the lot through a coffee
filter?
3. If the solution is 'working', as it is in my test, is the black stuff
necessary, - or in this case - lack of it, effect the long term life of my
prints?

Any and all help will be gladly accepted.

Harry