Kerik Kouklis wrote that on the papers he was using it was better to give a
double coating of platinum sensitiser to get the best print.
I maintain that the best print can be obtained by using a single coat on the
right paper. I have narrowed my practice down to two papers, Fabriano Artistico
and Saunders Waterford both of which give as good results as any other paper,
As to graininess, using contrast enhancers such as potassium chlorate is only
going to reduce the potential quality of the print. That is why so many modern
platinum prints look so bad. The way to get a good print is to get a good
negative. There is quite a lot about this in the archive. As to coating, a hake
brush is all you need.
As to the understanding of paper there is an excellent book published by Design
Books called 'Which Paper' by Silvie Turner ISBN1-55821-321-0 which gives as
much information as any alternative photographic printer could need on the make
and quality of art papers. I recommend it wholeheartedly.
Terry King