[alt-photo] Re: PVA revisited - one size doesn't fit all?

[Diana Bloomfield]

Hey Henry,

Those comparisons are really interesting; thanks for doing that.  

I love the entire image, "Still Lunch," but it's really fascinating to see the detailed squares.  I notice that you said you gave each the same exposure and same development, which offers a good comparison, but maybe with some tweaking of the exposure and/or development (or a different paper?) -- one of those "less fussy" approaches would get that much closer to your preferred gelatin/formaldehyde method. :)  Your method certainly looks less grainy, too, don't you think?  What I really find interesting is the difference with the PVA coated from the get-go, and the PVA coated only after the first coat.  

Anyway, I like the ones done on SW HP so much better than the ones done on FA HP, too.  The details and colors on the SW seem so much more distinct and seem to have a more luminescent quality, to my mind.  It would be interesting to see results on various other papers, too.  

Thanks, Henry.  

Diana

On Feb 22, 2012, at 10:57 AM, Henry Rattle wrote:

> Following our discussions last month about PVA and gelatin size for
> tricolour gum prints, I thought you might like to see little comparison I
> did. All the prints were coated the same, same exposure, same development. I
> was interested in the finer detail of the surface produced. It's hardly a
> comprehensive survey - my initials aren't CZA - but thought some of you
> might be interested.
> 
> I tried 
> 1. Saunders Waterford HP preshrunk, with gelatin/formaldehyde sizing brushed
> on (incidentally the hot-pressed surface disappears after the first soak and
> it becomes more like a cold-pressed or NOT surface).
> 2. Compared it with the same paper unshrunk and with PVA 1+1 size
> 3. And with the same again but (following Diana) applying the size only
> after the first (yellow) coat
> 4. And with Fabriano Artistico HP with gelatin/formaldehyde size (the paper
> was pretty slick for the final (blue) coat which came away too easily)
> 5. And with FA HP with PVA 1+1
> 
> I took a scan of the original picture, and then of 50mm (2 inch) squares of
> each print to reveal more of the surface. If you want to see them they are
> on Flickr at:
> 
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/henry_rattle/
> 
> The remarkable thing to me is how different they all are! The conclusion?
> Well firstly that no two gum printers will ever end up succeeding with the
> same workflow. And second that I think I still prefer my
> gelatin/formaldehyde size, although Diana's PVA after the first coat runs it
> pretty close, and is considerably less fuss!
> 
> With best wishes
> 
> Henry
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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