[alt-photo] Re: Paper Negatives

[Paul Viapiano]

Doug...

I used Peter's View Camera article as a guide to getting started.

I use Epson High Quality Inkjet Paper, and an Epson 3800 in ABW mode. After 
I print the negative, I heat it up on a cookie sheet on top of an electric 
stove burner, set to low.

(My stove is a closed system with no elements exposed, which would cause a 
problem with melted wax. Believe me, a friend almost burned down her house 
melting wax on a gas stove. I'm not sure of the flammability of beeswax, but 
THIS IS A WARNING WHICH SHOULD BE HEEDED. Peter uses an electric griddle, 
which you can pick up at any Target or housewares store.)

I then melt pure white beeswax (from Michael's) on both sides of the neg 
while wiping excess with paper towels. The neg will become very translucent, 
almost as translucent as film...you'll be surprised. This part takes a 
little practice...too much wax and you get streaking.

I used ChartThrob to calibrate the negatives. I also needed to tweak the CT 
curve and add an additional curve to control contrast.

Tweaking is the hardest and most painstaking part, but once it's dialed in 
you're good to go. I should mention that I've used these negs for pure gum 
(single and tricolor) only so far...

Hope this helps...

Paul




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Doug Taylor" <dougtaylor13 at mac.com>
To: "The alternative photographic processes mailing list" 
<alt-photo-process-list at lists.altphotolist.org>
Sent: Sunday, February 07, 2010 12:27 PM
Subject: [alt-photo] Paper Negatives


> Paul,
>
> I've not made paper negatives before but did look at Peter's website  and 
> his work is very nice. Which Epson paper is used and which side of  the 
> paper negative is waxed? Also, do you use QTR to calibrate the  negative 
> for the alt process? Any input to get me started would be  helpful. I have 
> made digital negatives before and used them to print  cyanotype and 
> palladium prints.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Doug
>
> On Feb 6, 2010, at 2:47 PM, Paul Viapiano wrote:
>
>> Right, I was talking PC on my end...
>>
>> John, have you tried making paper negatives on Epson inkjet paper  and 
>> waxing them?
>>
>> It's a lot to go through but the prints are wonderful. Check out  Peter 
>> Liepke's work.
>>
>> http://www.peterliepke.com/
>>
>> I've been using them for gum prints, single and tri-color, and they  are 
>> marvelous...and cheap! But if it's perfect sharpness you're  looking for, 
>> OHP will win out there, but you'd be surprised at the  paper negs.
>>
>> The paper negs print with ABW in the Epson driver.
>>
>> Paul
>>
>>
>>>
>>
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