[alt-photo] Re: Dmax for silver paper

[etienne garbaux]

Pierre wrote:

>Which paper do you use?

I don't make SG prints anymore -- all of the papers I liked are long 
gone.  For prints that have the look of a classic SG print, I use 
inkjet on glossy photo paper or carbon transfer onto baryta paper.  I 
also print Pt on baryta paper, but that has a look all its own.

And yes, ferrotyping has always been a real pain.  Best results are 
obtained without heat ("real" ferrotype sheets were polished, 
chrome-plated steel sheets much like cookie sheets).  In my 
experience, plate glass (not window glass) works even better.  Some 
folks wax the ferrotype sheets (or glass) if they have a problem 
getting prints to release when they are dry.  You squeegee the washed 
prints firmly -- very firmly -- to the sheets and wait for them to 
dry and pop off.  Note that you need to mix your fixer without 
hardener to get any sort of ferrotyping to work well.  You also need 
to go heavy on the wetting agent (Photo-Flo or equivalent) and there 
must be excess water on the surface when the print meets the sheet or 
drum.  For heated drum-type dryers, use the lowest heat that releases 
the print after a full rotation, or even much lower and let them go 
around twice.  Polish the drum with Simichrome polish (do not wax it).

Best regards,

etienne