Gum Substrate

richard Sullivan (richsul@roadrunner.com)
Wed, 28 Feb 1996 14:12:04 -0700

>Richard, Hi
>
>I was interested to read your posting on the use of substrates in the making of
>gum prints. Irving Penn's aluminium sheeting for platinum prints came to mind.
>
>When I started my experiments in gum printing more than twenty years ago I
found
>that if I used a heavy paper under heavy glass during exposure, I did not need
>to use extra means of achieving registration through a number of prints. There
>are now ways of avoiding having to size or stretch the paper or use substrates.
>
>When there is little reliable information available one finds one's own way of
>doing things.and one continues using that method until there is
incontravertible
>proof that something better is available. I have worked in the same way.
>
>
>Did you change your mind over the substrate method or do you still consider
that
>it has advantages over other approaches.
>
>Terry King

The advantage of this method is more than just registration but that one
can dry with a hairdryer. This allows a for a short exposure and short
development which otherwise could not be achieved with unbound paper due to
buckling, curling, and other such nonesense which would give uneven
development or even complete washoff. The hairdryer in effect halts any
further development. This allows for not only quick coating and development,
but with the many coats, you build up the print in layers, allowing for fine
adjustments in color, contrast and density.

Dick