[alt-photo] Re: casein

[Marek Matusz]

Alberto and Don,
It is interesting that I ended up with about 12% casein solution, very similar to yours. The ammonia smell from ammonium carbonate is rather faint, almost non existent. The solution feels like a typical gum solution. I used watercolour indantrone blue (Danil Smith) with more or less of what I would use for a monochromatic gum, much more concentrated then for a tricolour printing. 
Th esensitizer consisted of 10cc of this ammonim caseinate/pigment solution and 5 cc of saturated ammonium dichromate. Coating was done with brush and then smoothed with a foam roller. I also use the foam roller to pick up excess of sensitizing solution. This results in a very even and thin coat. I use the same method for gum printing.  The exposure was about 1 to 1:15 minutes on a bank of UV lights. With the same negative I would expose 2-3 minutes for gum. My negatives are actually palladium/carbon type, but that is what I use for gum printing. After a few minutes of soaking I could see some elements of print emerging and as advised by the posts  took a very soft brush and started working on the print. It was really a wonderful experience and after a few minutes of brushing I had a great print with absolutely clean highlights and great tonality.
It was amazing how easy the whole process was.
Nex day I coated a second layer of caseinate/graphite gray and exposed for 45 seconds to add some density to shadows and tone down the intense blue.
I think I am hooked on the process and mesmerized by the ability to selectively use brushes or other tools for developing.
FOr a long time I wanted to print on silver or gold leaf and caseine might be the ticket.
 After years of printing gum I am excited about this new process.
Marek
 
> From: alt.list at albertonovo.it
> To: alt-photo-process-list at lists.altphotolist.org
> Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2011 12:25:32 +0200
> Subject: [alt-photo] Re: casein
> 
> Don, 
> 
> > My first home made solution of casein still reeks of ammonia. Does anyone
> > know if that is normal? To make the solution I used common household ammonia
> > - 3%. Should I order some Ammonia hydroxide from the Formulary? I have a
> > lifetime supply of sodium hydroxide, would be best if I could get that to
> > work since the am. Hydroxide has serious hazmat fees to ship. 
> > 
> > After leaving the jar of liquid casein uncapped for a couple of days, I came
> > down to my darkroom to discover ants floating around in the solution. Seeing
> > that, I recapped the solution and left it sitting on the counter. This batch
> > was mixed on April 14th. There it still sits.
> 
> Are you trying to let the ammonia evaporate from the solution, probably 
> because you dislike its smell?
> It will take more time than it is required by the alkalinity of the solution 
> to break the casein molecula. I prefer to use it in a few days from the 
> preparation, or to keep it -tightly capped- in the refrigerator.
> If you wish to prepare sodium caseinate, then use:
> casein powder 6g
> water 50 cc
> sodium hydroxide 1.7% 10 cc
> Heat with stirring at 70-80°C for 15-30 in a water bath, then cool. 
> 
> > Is there any pointing in considering Calcium caseinate?
> 
> Why to complicate your life if ammonium and sodium are enough? :-) 
> 
> Alberto
> www.grupponamias.com
> www.alternativephotography.com/wp/photographers/rodolfo-namias-group 
> 
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