From: TERRY KING, 101522,2625
TO: Judy Seigel, INTERNET:jseigel@panix.com
DATE: 03/06/96 10:49
RE: Copy of: Re: buying Gum Arabic
>
Judy
> .... I am > interested to learn
> that the hardeners can lead to the gelatine falling off the > paper.
>
> 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.
I regard the whole thing with an air of gentle amusement for, as you know, I
find all this pre-hardening quite unnecessary. But if people want to do it that
is their freedom.
>
> 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).
ABCD golfish
MNO golfish
SDR golfish
RDR golfish
You say eether and I say either!
>
> >
> > 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.
>
True ! That is why for gum printing I stick to the four that work well for me
unless I have a special requirement.
> 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.
One is working consistently with the same materials. No need to buy formaldehyde
or glyoxal.
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.
As Klaus says the advantages of alternative processes is that one has freedom.
Come to the land of the free !
Terry
>
>
>