[alt-photo] Re: new cyanotype and paper question

[zphoto at montana.net]

Dianna,

This is EXACTLY my experience, and with that paper. I have been 
testing, as you know, about 20-30 papers with cyano and then argyro 
and then pt/pd.
The Arches Hot Press did that pink/beige thing. Pinkish when wet, then 
dried to tan. It was different than what I saw on Buxton not clearing, 
which was yellow. I solved the Buxton issue with citric acid in my 
water, several TB in a couple liters. I did not solve the Arches 
problem. It dried ugly pale tan.

I have a picture of Aquarelle, another paper, here:

http://christinaanderson.visualserver.com/Text_page.cfm?pID=1953

It is a standardized test of 15 minutes, way over what Ware's requires 
(trying to compare 15mn Ware's vs. Traditional) and so my guess is, 
though I have not yet gone back and tried it, that the tan could 
disappear with a shorter exposure but maybe not. If it doesn't 
disappear with shorter exposure or fresher mix, I will cross that 
paper off as suitable.

Did you buy Ware's cyanotype already mixed from Fotospeed or mix your 
own? I have found a difference between the Fotospeed premixed and my 
own mix. It could be the Fotospeed is old. But if you are using your 
homemade brew then all bets are off. I have not gone back to using my 
homemade on every paper yet to see if the tan problem is the premixed 
stuff's problem or the paper problem.

Chris



On Friday 03/09/2012 at 4:07 pm, Dianna Rust  wrote:
> Dear List
>
> I know this seems to have come up a lot , especially recently, but I 
> don't recall seeing any mention of using Arches Hot Press, natural 
> white, 140 lbs.
>
> I am working with Mike Ware's new cyanotype using Arches Hot Press.   
> I have been concerned that my highlights are a little pink/beige - 
> maybe a shade darker than the paper base, which is certainly far from 
> bright white.   I like the way the images look - especially compared 
> with either Buxton (fast but very contrasty) or Platine (just too much 
> blue all over), but wonder if there is a problem with clearing and 
> whether the photographs may be fugitive/will deteriorate at some 
> point.  I use a drop or two of citric acid in the emulsion, mixed in 
> just before using it, and I wash my prints, gently, for 20 minutes 
> (well water - no chlorine).
>
> Previously, I had been using Fabriano Aristico and had been very 
> pleased with it, till I switched to a new batch of paper.   I realized 
> that the old paper was at least 15 years old! and the new sheets just 
> didn't produce the same or consistent results.
>
> Does anyone have any advice to offer on this, please?
>
> With apologies for causing repetitions!
>
> Dianna
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