[alt-photo] Re: salt printing

Malin Fabbri alternativephotography at gmail.com
Sat Sep 1 09:01:07 GMT 2012 

Hi Christina and all the rest of you saltprinters!
I saw you're discussing Ellie Young's book and she has just very kindly
added a chapter of the Salt print manual to AlternativePhotography.com,
take a look here:
http://www.alternativephotography.com/wp/processes/saltprints/salt-printing-exposing-the-print
Hope you find it useful!
All the best,
Malin

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(¸.•´ (¸.•*Malin Fabbri
Editor, AlternativePhotography.com
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On 29 August 2012 18:12, Christina Anderson <zphoto at montana.net> wrote:

> David,
> Thanks for such a detailed report of your process. I am in first week back
> of classes and am not getting time to digest email but I may be asking you
> some questions about this down the road. Saving this email...
> Chris
>
> Christina Z. Anderson
> christinaZanderson.com
>
> On Aug 24, 2012, at 10:15 PM, David Pitcher wrote:
>
> > I switched over to primarily making Salt prints from Platinum a little
> over a year ago because of the cost of the metals.  Silver much more
> economical, especially when working with experimental substrates.
> >
> > My experiences with Salt Prints over the past year summarized:
> > I would consider tonal range equal to that of Platinum/Palladium based
> on the process I have been following.  Printed a handful of 31 step wedges
> along the way and measure with a densitometer. Salt is capable of printing
> 25 distinct measurable steps before reach paper white and is the same as
> what I get with Platinum.
> >
> > My choice of papers are Magnani Revere Suede(Preferred), Magnani Revere
> Platinum, and Arches Platine.
> >
> > Un-toned prints have a deep chocolate brown with bright clear
> highlights, there is significant darkening as the print dries.  I tone
> prints using the Gold Toning kit from Bostick & Sullivan(.2% Gold Chloride
> & 2% Ammonium Thiocyanate) anywhere from 2 minutes to 10 minutes and get
> deep black to eggplant or blue/black shadows. Toning is done prior to
> fixing.
> >
> > I print with digital negatives using QTR to optimize negative density to
> match emulsion.  I started with my Platinum QTR curve and slightly tweaked
> to produce the final Salt curve I am using.  Digital negatives are printed
> using an Epson 4880 with Ultrachrome Inkset and the Matte Black ink
> cartridge on Pictorico OHP.
> >
> > Exposure is under an DIY UV exposure unit consisting of 12 VHO Super
> Actinic T8 Bulbs(peak at 420nm) powered by electronic ballasts.  Exposure
> times 16 minutes with this light source, which is 4x longer than my
> Platinum exposure time.
> >
> > Formula:
> > 2% Ammonium Chloride Solution
> >   70ml Distilled Water
> >   2g Ammonium Chloride
> >   2g Sodium Citrate
> >   Distilled Water to make 100ml solution
> >
> > 12% Silver Nitrate Solution
> >   Part A
> >   12g Silver Nitrate
> >   40ml Distilled Water
> >   Additional Distilled Water to make 50ml solution
> >
> >   Part B
> >   5g Citric Acid
> >   40ml Distilled Water
> >   Additional Distilled Water to make 50ml solution
> >
> >   Equal parts A & B combined at time of coating paper (1.5ml of each to
> coat 8x10)
> >
> > Print Processing Details:
> > 3% Salted Wash Bath(1% Citric Acid & 3% Morton's Kosher Salt)
> > I use tap water instead of distilled water and add 0.20ml of Fresh Water
> Fish Ammonia/Chlorine Treatment per 1000ml tap water to neutralize Ammonia
> and/or Chlorine from in the tap water. My water is "city" water and not
> from a well.  Print is gently agitated in this bath face up for 5 minutes.
> >
> > Tap water wash bath for 15 minutes changing the water every 5 minutes.
> >
> > 10% Sodium Thiosulfate fixing bath for 4 minutes. Print will become
> lighter and turn a rust orange.
> >
> > 1% Sodium Sulfite clearing bath for 5 minutes.
> >
> > Tap water wash bath for 5 minutes
> >
> > Print washer for minimum of 45 minutes.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > David
> >
> > -----Original Message----- From: Christina Anderson
> > Sent: Friday, August 24, 2012 5:23 PM
> > To: The alternative photographic processes mailing list
> > Subject: [alt-photo] Re: salt printing
> >
> > Ohmagosh. I see. That is VERY interesting and makes total sense, that
> the amount of reduced silver in the image depending on the shadows or
> highlights of that particular image, would influence color. Very neat. Not
> read that in the literature.
> > Chris
> >
> >
> >> Not quite. The affect on color is relative to how light or
> >> dark the image is... how much silver is held in the paper to form the
> >> image... that's the killer for me. No matter how exact I measure the
> >> chemistry, the amount of silver that forms each image will affect the
> >> final color. I'm conjuring up a plan to use a histogram to guide my
> >> tweaking... haven't gotten down to designing the information transfer to
> >> a volume or time variable yet and it might be a bogus idea... too soon
> >> to tell.
> >>
> >> I'm measuring with a 10ml syringe.... exactly 4ml per 12x15
> >> sheet. I might be off a drop or so, but not much. I could try measuring
> >> drops as a means to reduce another variable I suppose.
> >>
> >> I know the
> >> table you're referring too with the speedier salts listed against their
> >> contrast. In my experience the isn't much difference in contrast, only
> >> speed and final color.
> >>
> >> One last note, the final color can't be judged
> >> before the print is totally dry. That tends to slow down these tests.
> >> Humidity is pretty constant since I have AC in my darkroom, but since
> >> it's MI... it's always high.. 55-65%
> >>
> >> ~Darryl
> >>
> >> On 2012-08-23 12:28,
> >> Christina Anderson wrote:
> >>
> >>> Darryl,
> >>>
> >>> Can I quote you :)? I am
> >> thrilled to find someone really doing salt on this list, separate from
> >> albumen anyway...
> >>>
> >>> Do you find salt a longer tonal range than
> >> pt/pd?
> >>>
> >>> What is your choice of fixing bath and time?
> >>>
> >>> So the
> >> amount of silver nitrate influences color...you would have to be,
> >> therefore, exact with your drop-to-sq.-inch count to get similar color,
> >> right?
> >>>
> >>> One thing I am puzzling with is Young's use of the word
> >> "contrast." If a certain solution is faster in exposure, she then
> >> equates it with lower contrast. Now, I could be the one confused but I
> >> have always understood contrast to be separate from exposure. Once
> >> maximum black and maximum white are achieved, the number of steps
> >> between the two is either fewer (more contrasty) or greater (less
> >> contrasty) but if comparing faster and slower solutions this gives a
> >> false read.
> >>>
> >>> That would be like, in the B&W darkroom, exposing a
> >> grade 0 paper and a grade 5 paper the same time and comparing the
> >> papers' contrast.
> >>>
> >>> I would first get the standard printing time
> >> (SPT) and then compare the number of steps. But I could totally have it
> >> wrong all these years. PLEASE correct me??
> >>>
> >>> I have the PDF, and just
> >> ordered the book, but thanks for the offer. I wanted to see the step
> >> wedges in print.
> >>>
> >>> I do like her clear method of writing and
> >> testing.
> >>>
> >>> An off-lister suggested Ware's article on salt, too.
> >>>
> >>>
> >> OH, one other thing. I was able to see Panera and Hajicek's giant salt
> >> print photograms done in the sunlight at F295 a few years back. Now THEY
> >> were stunning. And of course Dan Estabrook's work is a favorite of mine.
> >> Jesseca Ferguson as well.
> >>> Chris
> >>>
> >>> Christina Z. Anderson
> >>>
> >> christinaZanderson.com
> >>>
> >>> On Aug 23, 2012, at 12:09 PM, Darryl Baird
> >> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> Chris, I spent a good portion of this year working on
> >> getting salt printing "down" and I've discovered there isn't a single
> >> formula published that works completely as "advertised" in any of the
> >> sources you've just cited. Young's work is, by far, the most complete,
> >> yet there are gaps or things a little glossed over. I revised Young's
> >> formula (using Potassium Chloride) with a couple of additives in the
> >> sizing, and a minor modification in the hypo stage. I was happy...
> >> notice the past tense. Young published her research as a dissertation
> >> first, then revised it into the pdf "manual." I have both if you'd like
> >> a copy of the former. One of the latest finds (for me) is a statement by
> >> Reilly about the color also being determined by the amount of silver
> >> used (retained in the paper) in making any image. It made perfect sense
> >> that the final amount of silver within the image being toned would have
> >> an affect on the final color. This one little "detail" sent me over the
> >> top considering I want EVERY print I produce in a portfolio to match in
> >> color. So, my next challenge is to manage a method to estimate the
> >> amount of total silver present and adjust either my toning time or
> >> volume for each image. PITA I'd already resorted to a single-shot
> >> solution for each step, never reusing chemistry in order to narrow or
> >> eliminate the color variables from each.
> >>>>
> >>>>> From Reilly, Chapter
> >> 8:
> >>>> Toning "Among the factors which influence the outcome of the
> >> toning operation are the pH of the binder (gelatin, arrowroot, albumen,
> >> etc.) materials used, the pH of the silver solution, **the amount of
> >> silver deposited to form the image,** the thoroughness of the initial
> >> wash in processing, the pH of the toning solution, the presence of other
> >> substances in the toning solution, the strength of the gold solution,
> >> its temperature, its age, and the time of immersion of the print." Steve
> >> Achell has some helpful advice in this document... it was helpful in
> >> some of my formula changes.
> >>
> http://steveanchell.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=34%3Asalted-paper&catid=15%3Aoutput-darkroom-and-lightroom&Itemid=39
> >> [1] and
> >>
> http://www.alternativephotography.com/wp/pop-printing-out-process/printing-out-processes
> >> [2]I'm also going to start a new printing test using fumed silica.
> >> Darryl On 2012-08-23 09:50, Christina Anderson wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>> Dear
> >>>>
> >> All, I noticed last night when googling it that it is available on
> >> Amazon here and also on the alternativephotography.com website
> >> here:
> http://www.alternativephotography.com/wp/processes/saltprints/the-salt-print-m
> >>>>
> >>
> >>>>> lt-Print-Manual-Ellie-Young/dp/144528328XFor some reason,
> >>>> ow
> >> how long I have had it, I have a PDF of it from the web, so at one point
> >> it was free. In any case, I want to give credit to her for her research
> >> and did buy the book (I can't stand reading PDFs). It seems between
> >> Reilly, James' chapter on salt in his book, and Young's book there isn't
> >> too much other current literature on the process, unless it is just
> >> lumped under albumen which is quite popular. OH and Ed Buffaloe's
> >> article on unblinkingeye.com which BTW includes a CASEIN sizing for the
> >> salt print I am dying to experiment with, because it would be matte like
> >> casein is, and like Reilly talks about
> >>>>
> >>>>>
> >> hy.com/wp/processes/saltprints/a-dash-of-salt">htt
> >>>>
> >> nativephotography.com/wp/processes/saltprints/a-dash-of-salt Happy fall
> >> to everyone! Chris Christina Z. Anderson
> >> christinaZanderson.com_______________________________________________
> >> Alt-photo-process-list | http://altphotolist.org/listinfo [3]
> >> _______________________________________________ Alt-photo-process-list |
> >> http://altphotolist.org/listinfo [4]
> >>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >>> Alt-photo-process-list
> >> | http://altphotolist.org/listinfo
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Links:
> >> ------
> >> [1]
> >>
> http://steveanchell.com/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=34%3Asalted-paper&amp;catid=15%3Aoutput-darkroom-and-lightroom&amp;Itemid=39<http://steveanchell.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=34%3Asalted-paper&catid=15%3Aoutput-darkroom-and-lightroom&Itemid=39>
> >> [2]
> >>
> http://www.alternativephotography.com/wp/pop-printing-out-process/printing-out-processes
> >> [3]
> >> http://altphotolist.org/listinfo
> >> [4] http://altphotolist.org/listinfo
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Alt-photo-process-list | http://altphotolist.org/listinfo
> >
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(¸.•´ (¸.•*Malin Fabbri
Editor, AlternativePhotography.com
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