Humidity Challenge for Pt, Pd
joemoniz@kincyb.com
Tue, 13 Aug 1996 16:39:16 -0800
AL>On Aug 11, Judy Seigel Wrote
AL>>,..... would you describe the "humidity box" for those of us who are
AL>humidically challenged? Thanks.... <
AL>I have been using a plastic box some 30" long, 8 " high and 12" wide with
AL>drugstore cold steam humidifier attached to a hole in the bottom. I've been
AL>experimenting with humidifying the paper for up to 10 minutes both before an
AL>after coating but before exposure in my UV light source. The relative humid
AL>reads 90% or more in the box. I have not done careful testing with a step we
AL>and I know the power of the placebo effect on the human mind but I swear my
AL>blacks are far deeper and the range of tones represented far greater. Befo
AL>had simply held the paper directly over the humidifier vapor for a minute
AL>so and had not noted any improvement in a step wedge test . No profound
AL>conclusions at this time however.
AL>Stephen Harrison
Try a double blind test. Have someone prepare your materials for you,
not knowing which type (heavily humidified, or lightly) is going to be
tested. Then you, withough finding out which type of material you're
working with, use it. Have the "someone" previosuly mentioned keep track
of which pieces are from which batch. When you've made a good deal of
completed works have this someone sit by and watch you sort the works
ito ones you feel are better (by the qualities of the paper) and then
let that someone mark wich ones are from which batch.