In answer to five points in different postings, in my experience:
You will get good contrast if your negative has a range of between 1.8 and 2.0
and you size the paper first with a 1% size. As to papers Fabriano Artistico
NOT and Somerset work beautifully.
Liquitex works well as a first coat but with Liquitex materials not
water-colour.
You will get a more consistent result from gum if you use gum as your base size
rather than gelatine. You need to dichromate the gum, dry it in the dark and
expose and wash it before use. This system gives a print known as a pterotype, (
see recent posting ). If you use Bockingford paper you do not have to size first
if you are using only up to three coats.
In Stoke by Neyland Church the dark detail was under an arch surrounded by
bright white washed walls. Even with time the eye would not adjust to the
contrast..
Terry King