[alt-photo] Re: ware cyanotype paper sensitivity

[Christina Anderson]

Earl,
Did you expose it?  I expose paper that turns blue-green (Fabriano Artistico does that to me regularly) and it works just fine. It may be that it is duller and lower contrast, though.

The problem with unsuitable paper and Ware's was that after exposure and developing you will get a yukky purple fog in all the highlights that really ruins the print.  But if you add citric acid to the Wares coating mix that takes care of that.  1 or 2 drops of 40% citric acid to 1 ml sensitizer or 1 g. citric acid to 100ml solution.

But you won't know if you get yukky purple fog or dull/low contrast blue until you expose and develop. At which point, use the citric.

Let us know.
Chris

Christina Z. Anderson
christinaZanderson.com

On Jan 9, 2010, at 7:01 PM, Earl and Patty Johnson wrote:

> I am new to this list, but I recognize almost all of your names from other places. I hope that some of you can shed some light on my situation.
> 
> Today I coated some Mike Ware formula new cyanotype on Arches Aquarelle grain satine, and it turned bluish/green before it even dried. I know that this sensitizer is sensitive (pun intended) to paper chemistry, but I expected this paper to work. Does anyone have experience with this combination? Does the paper have an alkali buffer that can be neutralized with a soak in something like citric acid solution before coating? Or is my cyanotype solution bad and should be discarded? Or is this paper verboten for new cyanotype?
> 
> I like the Ware formula - I get six or seven more steps in the Stouffer wedge than I do with the traditional formula. However, it is frustrating to coat it on expensive paper and see it fog spontaneously.
> 
> Thanks for any comments.
> 
> Earl Johnson
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