Terry, am I the first person ever to accuse you of disingenuosity -- or
merely the first on this list!? As I daresay you understood
perfectly, the hardeners do not lead to "gelatine falling off the paper,"
but might possibly cease their *prevention* of gelatine falling off the
paper during long soaks if not given an alkaline hit in solution.
On the other hand, if you wish to accuse me of not understanding the
British sense of humor, I have no defense -- or defence either (but de fence
in our yard is about to be pushed over by rogue tree next door).
>
> The first coat of hardened size is recommended in some books and the
> recommendation is followed by many as if it were holy writ.
That the books are full of foufah I do not dispute. That is, the current
ones. The old books generally recommended *against* an added size, and
lacked many other errors, distortions and general corruptions that have
become the practice in gum printing. However, my tests show that papers
vary. Some do better with no added size for at least a couple of coats,
some, being very absorbent (Hahnemuhl watercolor, outstanding among them)
would require such heavy gum to print if not pre-sized, it would be like
printing with molasses.
> I have recently suggested to the list that a first coat of bichromated gum or
> Gloy works very well as a foundation. Peter Frederick says that he has confirmed
> this in tests he has made. The sensitised gum is dried in the dark and then
> exposed for two or three minutes, and then washed to remove the traces of
> dichromate, before the first coat of pigment is applied. I did think of a name
> for this method.
> The method works well for hot pressed papers.
I tried this method & liked it less than gelatine; since it was as much
trouble, the advantage wasn't clear to me. Am now running some more
organized tests of sizes & hardeners, anticipate improved info -- for my
own edification only, of course, don't expect to change anyone's
convictions.
Judy