> Just a quick update on my BWK (Big Wet Kiss) experiments. The process
> continues to work terrifically well.
>
> I have running tests with pure
> palladium recently and have found (as one would expect from the
> literature) that heating potassium oxalate developer up to the steaming
> point, will result in siginificantly warmer tones. I don't really like
> working with the hot developer because of the fumes, but I have minimized
> the problem by using a sheet of clear plexiglas to cover the tray after I
> add the developer.
>
> The only downside is slightly enhanced grain -- which some people might
> like for certain types of photos, and some black "bathtub ring" in my
> trays. I assume this is sensitizer runoff due to using more sensitizer
> than necessary. I will continue to explore what is the minimal amount of
> sensitizer required for this method. However, it doesn't seem to be much
> of a problem with room temp. developer. It becomes a problem when it
> leaves little swirls of "bathtub ring" on the paper, though it has always
> been near the edge of the paper where the developer sloshes back on it
> when rocking the tray.
>
> The blacks are still dark and rich using either the room temp. developer
> or the hot developer. In other words, the alleged run-off is not
> degrading the image.
>
> That's it for now. More news as it happens.
>
> David Fokos
>
David, I would be very careful about the fumes containing oxalates. Are
you wearing a respirator?
I have found adding tween to the sensitizer has eliminated runoff for me.
Do you have any in the sensitizer?
John