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

[Marek Matusz]

Gord,
After such an excellent endorsment from Diana there is little to add, other then it seems too good to be true and people are reluctant to try. Well, it is off the shelf, no toxic chemicals, easy to apply (I use 1:1 ot 1:2 depending on the paper). I would also apply a second coat, usually 1:2 if I want 4th, or more layers. Here is another neat observation. I was strictly Fabriano hot press user for my gums, but with PVAc I tried some other papers. BFK Rives woks even better for me. Strane thing, it is a much rougher surface then Fabriano and you would think that it would result in a duller print, but the contrary is true. In a side by side printing session I get mre brilliant prints with deeper colour on BFK. The paper also does not curl as much.
Marek
 

> From: dhbloomfield at bellsouth.net
> To: alt-photo-process-list at lists.altphotolist.org
> Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2012 17:07:06 -0500
> Subject: [alt-photo] Re: sizing options for color gum
> 
> 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
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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