>Regarding Judy's comments on beige BFK being inadequately absorptive
>for cyanotypes- I find it one of the easiest papers to print cyanotypes
>on! The variation in these old processes caused by working techniques,
>many very subtle, are part of what makes them so wonderful. If Judy
>will post her mailing address to me privately, I'd be glad to snail
>mail an example.
To which Judy replied:
>2. I would not print ANY cyanotype on Rives BFK... If you check the specs
>you'll see it is a buffered paper, that is, it has sodium carbonate added
>to fight off acid rain, or the acid something else buffering is meant to
>oppose. But cyanotype likes a slightly acid condition (according to my
>sources, I hasten to add ... Mike?), and the alkali in the paper is likely
>to impair the print over time, ie., fade it. Now that said, I haven't seen
>the specs on the beige paper, maybe it's not buffered -- but I wouldn't
>count on it.
Hate to contradict Judy, but I have been printing cyanotype as well as
gum-over-cyanotype on Rives Heavyweight with great (well, good) results.
Some people tell me that the HeavyWeight is the same as BFK, but I'm not
sure. With the PH pen, my Rives HeavyWeight is slightly acidic. Granted my
stock is over ten years old, but the fresh stock that my students have used
work equally well. Our problem is with the water, which measures 8.0 on the
ph meter, and we have to put a little acid in the wash to prevent the
cyanotype from being bleached.
Much of the paper problems we are encountering are due to the hype that
acid is BAD. Wish paper manufacturers wouldn't succumb to such simplistic
solution as buffering everything they make. Leonardo's drawings were not
done on acid-free paper!
>And where is global warming when we need it? I mean, answer me that!
>
>Judy
Be careful what you wish for, Judy. ;-)
Sam
Sam Wang e-mail: stmwang@hubcap.clemson.edu
Art Dept - Clemson University voice: 803/656-3924
Lee Hall, Clemson, SC 29634 FAX: 803/656-7523