I have tried printing gum on Arches Platin, in the hopes that it might have
enough extra size to be able to avoid sizing paper myself. It gave me
results not that much different than unsized Arches Rives BFK. When I work
with the BFK I secure it to sheets of plexiglass (see my letter from Jan 22).
The BFK is a 250 gram paper and the Platin 310 grams. The Platin was a bit
too thick to use my plexiglass method with. I never tried doing a palladium
print and then a gum on top with the Platin paper and it might work very
well. Since you are only going to do two printings (one palladium and one
gum) then you really need not worry about the paper shrinking too much. To
do the gum though you will still need to size extra if you want good clear
highlights.
I have not tried the Buxton paper either since it was quite expensive and
not so easy to purchase. I do most of my gums on much heavier 640 gram
paper. Most of them are a bit too coarse for taking full advantage of the
fine details achieved with platinum and palladium printing. There is a
paper that was recommended to me called FABRIANO ARTISTICO, also 640 grams,
but Hot Pressed to a smooth surface. That might work well. Has anyone tried
it?
Well I hope this helps. Ask if you are unclear about anything.
Jeff Stanford
Petrejusv. 32 121 38 Stockholm, Sweden tel:(+46)(0)8-659 86 09
e-mail: jeff.stanford@mailbox.swipnet.se
Internet address: http://www.algonet.se/~photogum