>:Apparently Wade is getting there on his own without having seen a demo
>-- and more power to him.
I believe Wade asked that I should put my oar in.
Very briefly, and as a basis for finding one's own working methods:
10% solution of gelatine at a temperature above 104 F, below this it will begin
to gel which should contain the same amount of powder paint as gelatine and 5
cc of glycerine for every 100 ml of solution thoroughly mixed together.
This should be poured onto a dampened absorbent paper which has been squeegeed
onto a flat level levelled surface with raised edges, about 5 mm. Remove any
bubbles from the surface by combing it. The last time I demonstrated this I used
the hair comb from my pocket. (Below 104 it will be like trying to comb
jell(o)(y). The paper should be wall lining paper from the decorators merchant
or if that is not obtainable in the land of the loo seat protector, try
lintless blotting paper from the art print store.
Leave the gelatine to set for two or three hours and then cut the paper free and
place in a cool dry place to dry slowly for a number of days depending on the
ambient humidity. Here after a week there should be fine shiny surface of no
apparent thickness.
Sensitise in a 3 % solution of am. dichromate at 55 F for three minutes. The
tissue will go gooey at much above 60 F.
Dry in the dark.
Expose under a negative with good gradation but very high contrast range, up to
2.8 will work. Do test strips first using a step wedge to establish exposure.
(Judy, can I get Stouffers wholesale ?).
While the exposure is in progress have the gelatinised receiving paper waiting
in a dish of water at 55 F. Bring the the carbon tissue and the receiving tissue
face to face under water and remove to a flat surface, eg glass, and squeegee
the carbon tissue to the receiving tissue and place another sheet of glass with
two demijohns of water as weights for half an hour. There should be two sheets
of lintless blotting paper one on either side of the two tissues before they are
sandwiched betweeen the glass.
The tissues should the be placed in water at above 104 F until beads of
dissolving gelatine appear at all four edges.
Remove carbon tissue in one smooth movement.
Agitate gently to remove soft gelatine changing the water until no pigment is
left in the water.
Reduce the temperature of the water to 60 F.
And there's your print.
I left out the bits about relative sizes of the paper and masking because I can
smell the coffee filtering.
Terry