[alt-photo] Re: 3 color gum and PDN calibration?

[Paul Viapiano]

I've mentioned this before on the list and concur with Diana re Fabriano soft press, a great paper for gum for many reasons. I also get excellent results from the hot press. I use them both without sizing. The only paper I size (with Gamblin PVA) is BFK Rives, but I don't use it very often. 

When I started printing gum and calibrating, etc it drove me crazy trying to get what I was looking for. Never thought that the calibration procedure really did anything for me at all. One day on a lark I used one of my platinum palladium negatives and it was perfect. I've used a pt/pd curve for all gum negs since and haven't looked back, beautiful results. I use the negs for both mono and tricolor...

Paul

On Sep 26, 2012, at 8:52 PM, Mary <gneissgirl at spamcop.net> wrote:

> On 9/26/2012 2:59 PM, Johnny Brian wrote:
>> With overexposure the steps on the wedge should merge,
> Yes, but I thought you said they were merging, i.e. all looking about the same:
> "I printed with yellow at 5m 40sec, 8 min and 11m 20sec, and they actually look about the same - the longer print times are a bit darker"
> 
> Sorry, I guess I misunderstood. My thought was that you had already exceeded the point at which the steps were distinguishable. The goal is to find that point where at least 2 steps are indistinguishable so you can pinpoint that ideal time, right?
> 
> I agree with Marek that the darker print times may be dichromate stain due to overexposure, not true tonal differences.
> 
> I have to admit that after struggling with PDN for calibrating gum, I kind of gave up. I just didn't have the patience to deal with it. I remember yellow being particularly frustrating. I admire your tenacity!
> 
> Mary
> 
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