In case you have to ask, I am printing platinum/palladium on Arches
Platine paper. I double-coat the paper. I will give my sensitizer
formulations at the end of this note.
In a nutshell, I buff/polish the paper after each coating of sensistizer
has dried. I imagine this procedure might be applied to some advantage
with other alt-processes as well. It works quite well with the Platine.
I haven't tried it on any other paper. It might be more difficult with
the lighter weight papers.
My process:
1. Apply coating of sensitizer with foam brush, using both horizontal and
vertical brush strokes.
2. Let paper dry naturally overnight.
3. With a soft rag, vigourously buff the paper until smooth (the paper
will feel slightly rough, a bit like sandpaper, before buffing).
4. Apply second coat of sensitizer and let dry overnight.
5. Buff paper again. Buff vigourously! Don't be timid (but *do* wear a
dustmask).
6. Print and enjoy.
The results have been miraculous. This is probably the single most
significant change I've ever made. I am thrilled with my paper now, and
couldn't think of anything about it I'd want to improve.
The black is as dark as coal. Large areas of tone, foggy skies,
gradients, etc., print as smooth as a baby's bum -- no grain, no
mottling, nothing but smooth, creamy tones. The prints are bright and
vigourous with terrific detail.
No humidifying, no Tween, no Deionized Oessin, nothing but the following:
ferric oxalate solution:
13.5 grams ferric oxalate powder (from our friend Richard Sullivan)
2.4 grams oxalic acid
0.8 grams EDTA
50 ml. water
mix and heat in a beaker until dark and clear. Filter and let cool to
room temperature.
platinum and palladium solutions are the standard solutions sold by B&S.
Sensitizer:
0.9 ml. ferric oxalate solution (room temp)
0.7 ml. platinum/palladium solution (use your own ratio)
1 drop 3% hydrogen peroxide.
woo-hoo!
David Fokos