[alt-photo] Weston Diploma Parchment

[Jon Reid]

Hi all,

I have been battling a problem for about 6 months now. At first I  
thought it was a clearing problem then after trying various things  
realised that it wasn't clearing but rather some density that was  
appearing in the coated area of the paper that is masked during  
exposure. The paper that I have been trying to print on is Weston  
Diploma Parchment. I bought this paper in early 2008 from Bostick &  
Sullivan and believe it is stock that was made by Cranes, not the re- 
invented Diploma Parchment Plat Pal being marketed by John Zowkowski  
of Butler Dearden.

I am wishing to print my 5x7 rollo-pyro negs on these 11x14 sheets  
for my debut solo exhibition. I do not want to mat the prints so I am  
trying for very clear coated-but-masked areas. The other night,  
believing I was dealing with a fogging issue I set up darkroom  
safelights and coated under those lights. I then used a hair dryer   
and rested the paper in the room for 10-15min before exposure (11min  
in my UV box), and developed in KOx (cold bath version-fresh) at 21C.  
The room lights were not switched on until after I had finished dev  
and rinsed the paper. The density in the unexposed area was less than  
it had been but was still there (see link to
parchment1.jpg below
http://sharperstill.com/jonreid/pics/parchment1.jpg
parchment2,jpg shows the same problem, same print recipe and exposure  
going back to last October. Note the difference in contrast.

I then tried a piece of Cranes natural white wove (8.5x11sheet given  
by a friend). A very slight trace of density remained while it was  
still in the first clearing bath but has all but disappeared since. See
http://sharperstill.com/jonreid/pics/craneswove.jpg

My gut feeling was 'Right, it has to be the paper!' I have read Mike  
Wares test of this paper where he speaks of a chemical fog inherent  
under a pure palladium print-out method. The only nagging squirrel in  
my belief that it is a problem in the paper is that some time ago I  
tested Arches Platine  and got the same result. Up until this project  
Platine was the only paper I have printed Pt/Pd on and apart from  
being stubborn to clear have never had any problems of this nature.  
That was what led me to believe that it was my room lights that were  
the problem. See platine:
http://sharperstill.com/jonreid/pics/platine.jpg

I really want to present these pictures on the wall in a certain way.  
and I don't think that Cranes natural white wove is available in  
11x14, and probably especially not here in Aust.

I don't have any specific questions from the list but invite thought,  
experiences and queries from any list member who might be able and  
want to contribute. This has been a tremendous source of frustration  
for me. Thank god I didn't have a deadline.

Jon
(Sydney, Australia)
PS: Is this the paper formerly known as Platinotype?
http://www.crane.com/prdSell.aspx? 
NavName=NavShop&DeptName=BusinessStationeryandAccessories&SubDeptName=Cr 
anesCoverStock&Name=21473_Cranes90lb.CoverStock23x29Sheets