<< You probably will want to go out and by some additional water colors as
lamp black does not seem to work particularly well with gum. >>
I have never been able to use the lamp black without excessive staining.
Others use it all the time without problems. Not all pigments will leave an
image and not all will develop out in the highlights depending on the paper,
viscosity of the emulsion, the thickness of the emulsion, the exposure, the
water temperature, the phase of the moon. You get the general idea. Try to
keep things constant in the beginning. That's where all this testing some of
us continue to shout about comes into play. The challenge with gum printing;
to those who are new and want to test the water, is that there are many
variables. It's so easy to get muddy or flakey results.
IMHO you can't make a gum print on naked newsprint; you must start with a
decent paper. I suggest you check the archives for successful paper and
sizing formulas (some think you don't necessarily need a size) and add the
kit to that. Find a repeatable light source (again in the archives or email
me for a few ideas)
I'd be happy to answer specific questions if I can. It's a great process.
Carole Hollander
Gumprint@aol.com