Personal variables

Richard Sullivan (richsul@roadrunner.com)
Sun, 23 Feb 1997 13:35:59 -0700

<x-rich>We have been in business for 17 years. In that time we have answered literally thousands of phone calls on our support line and many on the list have availed themselves of this service. Few really knew that in the beginning we operated out of our garage and bedroom. The phone was next to our bed and many many times the phone would ring at 3:00 am with a call from Denmark asking why all of their ferric oxalate would not dissolve. Ah, the life of an obstetrician!

In that time and through those thousands of phone calls one of the main things we learned was that what works for one person may not work for another. We've been doing Platypus parties for over a dozen years now in our home once a year for platinum printers. Back in my studio one printer flatly declared that platinum prints could not be made on Gallery 100. No way! Period! He said. Our own John Rudiak of the List just quietly pulled out a set of platinum prints he had made of artifacts from the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. (Baseball is sort of like cricket, Terry, only more exciting.) All gorgeous prints, and of course all on Gallery 100.

Both printers were top knotch, both knew their craft, and both were quite gentlemanly about their disagreement, though John got the upper hand having proof pudding of his side of the argument.

Each and every printer enters a set of very subtle variables into their printing process. It could be the subtle differences in the coating technique. It can be environmental. Paper is different from one batch to the next, lord I don't know some people may breathe heavier that others when coating and get more moisture on the print. I am a practicing skeptic, I have heard some absurd things. I've heard them all. There are those who consult an astrological chart to decide when to print. Double absurdity. We have had a rash of Feng Shui ghostbusting here in Santa Fe of late, so it could be haunted darkrooms.

I am sure David Kennedy thought his darkroom was haunted when six months ago he moved to a new house. Now David is pretty a. retentive when it come to palladium printing. He doesn't like to change things, and has a pretty well defined way of printing, but when he moved, everything went crap in his new shiny darkroom.

The best we can hope for is to share our experiences. I can say that Tween is the best thing since flexible film, and Terry can swear by deionized ossein, and B&S can sell both, take your pick. Hey, whatever works. Let's remember this.

Dick

<center>Bostick & Sullivan

PO Box 16639, Santa Fe

NM 87506

505-474-0890 FAX 505-474-2857</center>

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