[alt-photo] Re: sizing options for color gum

[Diana Bloomfield]

Thanks!  I hadn't heard of it before now. 



Sent from my iPhone

On Jan 15, 2012, at 5:32 PM, "Gordon J. Holtslander" <gjh at shaw.ca> wrote:

> Maidstone is an inexpensive printmaking paper I get from the University supply store.  I thought it was made by Rising, but I'm not sure any longer.  Rising was bought out by another company a few years ago. Rising made a paper called Stonehenge that I really liked - but after the buy out it changed.  I get really bad VanDyke's printing on Stonehenge now (not gum related I know ...)
> 
> Gord
> 
> On 1/15/2012 4:07 PM, Diana Bloomfield wrote:
>> Hey Gord,
>> 
>> I started out with the gelatin and glyoxal, and while I never had an
>> issue with the actual coating-- all went on seemingly smoothly--I would
>> still get staining in some areas-- despite using "non-staining"
>> pigments. I used both Rives BFK and Fabriano Artistico papers. I then
>> switched to gluteraldehyde and coated outside. In the beginning, I
>> thought there might be a difference (in a good way), but the more I used
>> it, the more it seemed to just be more of the same-- except, you know,
>> more toxic. I honestly didn't see the point. And a couple of times
>> things came out sort of yellow (probably from using maybe too much glut?).
>> 
>> Then it was Paul -- and maybe Jim Latimer, too?-- not sure-- talked
>> about using Gamblin PVA-- and wow-- what a difference. I also only use
>> it on Fabriano soft-press (haven't tried it on Rives BFK), but it works
>> like a charm. I use only one coat (put on AFTER the first coat, where I
>> use only the paper's internal sizing), and then I put just a thin coat
>> on, which leaves maybe a very slight sheen-- if anything-- and that one
>> coat seems to last for as long as I need it-- multiple layers, for sure.
>> 
>> As I'm sure I've said before, I don't dilute it, and I get absolutely no
>> shine or gloss from it, and it does what it's supposed to do. I did,
>> however make a very large print recently, and I found it a little more
>> challenging to put a thin PVA layer on such a large print-- so I did end
>> up with a shine then. So for prints that large (20x20 is large for me),
>> I do now dilute it 1:1.
>> 
>> I know you're already aware of all this, and this isn't specifically
>> what you asked-- but I also recently printed an image on Fabriano
>> soft-press without sizing all, using what was only in the paper. It did
>> really well, though I felt the third coat wasn't as "clean" as I would
>> have preferred-- so I just went back to using the PVA. I just know for
>> sure, using that, that I won't have a problem.
>> 
>> Anyway . . . I'm not sure why people are so reluctant to use the PVA. I
>> often get the sense here that if it's "too easy and works just fine,"
>> then it can't be right. Something's wrong. I cannot imagine going back
>> to using anything else, other than PVA, though. I also tried gesso at
>> one point, but I could never dilute it enough to where it would work
>> properly.
>> 
>> What is maidstone paper?
>> 
>> Diana
>> 
>> On Jan 15, 2012, at 4:39 PM, Gordon J. Holtslander wrote:
>> 
>>> I'm starting to work with gum printing again. I want to start doing
>>> color gum from digital negatives. My previous gum work was all from
>>> very large format pinhole negatives. I've been using Maidstone paper.
>>> It worked well with my pinhole negatives.
>>> 
>>> There are a more sizing and hardening options than when I was doing
>>> gum. I used grocery store knox, hardened chrome alum. I used to coat
>>> my paper with gum and then soak in chrome alum to harden.
>>> 
>>> Does higher bloom gelatine make a difference in sizing?
>>> 
>>> I can't use formalin because I am allergic to formaldehyde, and won't
>>> use glyoxal for the same reason.
>>> 
>>> The new options are Gamblin PVA and gluteraldehyde. I'm prepared to
>>> make a "fume hood" in my darkroom to deal with gluteralehyde fumes - I
>>> believe its too cold in Saskatoon, SK to size and dry outside in the
>>> winter. Is gluteraldehyde worth the effort or should I use Gamblin PVA
>>> or chrome alum?
>>> 
>>> What are peoples experience with sizing? I've done some preliminary
>>> work with Gamblin PVA - it looks promising. I tried undiluted GAmblin
>>> - but it was way to glossy. 2:1 Gamblin appearw workable.
>>> 
>>> Anyone using something different than PVA or hardened Gelatin?
>>> 
>>> Gord
>>> 
>>> 
>>> --
>>> Gordon J. Holtslander
>>> gjh at shaw.ca
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Alt-photo-process-list | http://altphotolist.org/listinfo
>> 
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> 
> 
> -- 
> Gordon J. Holtslander
> gjh at shaw.ca
> _______________________________________________
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