[alt-photo] Re: Fumed Silica, results ?

[clay at clayharmon.com]

Cor,

I cannot say I have tested this exhaustively. I kept everything else about my process the same:  I generally coat with a Richeson synthetic brush and dry my prints under a cool fan.  I did find that I had to use slightly more chemistry - something on the order of a 20-25% increase.

But even with my preliminary tests, I am encouraged enough to try it out a different paper each time I dive into the darkroom to make prints.

Clay
On Jan 4, 2012, at 10:05 AM, <C.Breukel at lumc.nl> wrote:

> Thanks Clay!, 
> 
> That's the encouraging info I was looking for! Next time when I need to order chemistry I'll include a jar of fumed silica!
> 
> In the mean time I would like to here about more experiences with fumed silica,
> 
> Thanks & best,
> 
> Oh, Clay, one more question: did also experience (as Dick) that you need more of your chemicals when you coat (which would make sense), and did you coat with a rod (well that makes 2 questions)?
> 
> Cor
> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: alt-photo-process-list-bounces at lists.altphotolist.org [mailto:alt-
>> photo-process-list-bounces at lists.altphotolist.org] On Behalf Of
>> clay at clayharmon.com
>> Sent: woensdag 4 januari 2012 15:13
>> To: The alternative photographic processes mailing list
>> Subject: [alt-photo] Re: Fumed Silica, results ?
>> 
>> I have just begun to use it on a few papers and it has allowed me to make
>> some very rich prints on papers that previously required acidification. My
>> greatest success to date has been with the Twinrocker watercolor paper. In
>> the past, I have had to acidify and sometimes double coat to get really
>> nice solid  blacks and a rich print on this paper.  After treatment, a
>> single coat of FO/metal salt gives me a very deep and rich print.
>> 
>> I have a bottle of the fumed silica in liquid form that I got from Bostick
>> and Sullivan and simply soaked the paper in a tray and then hung it to
>> dry. In his notes on the procedure, Richard is using a foam roller to
>> 'work' the non-liquid silica in to the fibers of the paper. I have not
>> done this yet and to date have simply opted to soak and dry before
>> coating.
>> 
>> I think fumed silica shows great promise, but a lot more experience with
>> various papers is probably called for. I wonder, for instance, if there
>> will be any effect (positive or negative) on my gumover prints if my base
>> print is made using a fumed silica pre-treatment. I have not had time to
>> find out.
>> 
>> If nothing else, we should certainly keep it in our bag of tricks for
>> making papers work for us.
>> 
>> Clay
>> On Jan 4, 2012, at 8:42 AM, <C.Breukel at lumc.nl> wrote:
>> 
>>> Philippe,
>>> 
>>> That's the idea ultimately, but it would sure be nice to get positive
>> feedback from various practitioners before I spend my money on yet another
>> jar of chemicals on my shelf..
>>> 
>>> Best,
>>> 
>>> Cor
>>> 
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: alt-photo-process-list-bounces at lists.altphotolist.org
>> [mailto:alt-
>>>> photo-process-list-bounces at lists.altphotolist.org] On Behalf Of
>> Philippe
>>>> Ayral
>>>> Sent: woensdag 4 januari 2012 13:44
>>>> To: The alternative photographic processes mailing list
>>>> Subject: [alt-photo] Re: Fumed Silica, results ?
>>>> 
>>>> I think you should give it a try in your own working conditions and
>>>> report your results to the list.
>>>> 
>>>> 2012/1/4  <C.Breukel at lumc.nl>:
>>>>> Some time ago Dick Sullivian posted very interesting information
>>>> regarding the use of Fumed Silica.
>>>>> 
>>>>> I was wondering if there are people around who have gained some
>>>> experience with it. I am particularly interested in the use of Fumed
>>>> silica in increasing Dmax in pure Pt printing.
>>>>> 
>>>>> For pure Pt printing I use Van Gelder Simili Japon, overall I am quite
>>>> happy with it (I hasten to add that I did not try many other papers),
>> but
>>>> some more Dmax would be nice. I know that some people double coat
>> Simili
>>>> Japon, but in my hands it did not increase Dmax, but did increase
>> coating
>>>> artifacts.
>>>>> 
>>>>> I am also interested in using Fumed Silica on Simili Japon to do gum,
>>>> Simili Japon is quite smooth and provides very little tooth for gum to
>>>> stick on.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Thanks & best,
>>>>> 
>>>>> Cor
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> Alt-photo-process-list | http://altphotolist.org/listinfo
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> --
>>>> Philippe Ayral
>>>> http://payral.pagesperso-orange.fr
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