Papers to try for Van Dyke process?

Korfhage, Willard (Willard-Korfhage@deshaw.com)
Tue, 03 Jun 1997 15:16:11 -0400

I've been trying a variety of different papers to find one I like for
the Van Dyke process, and I was wondering if perhaps people on this list
can offer advice on papers to try or things I should do to my papers. My
semi-random experiements look like they could go on for a while without
some guidance.

I'm using the Luminos Argyrotype kit, and have tried the papers I list
below.
It has been interesting to see how much they differ, but unfortunately I
don't know what characteristics cause these differences. Perhaps someone
can enlighten me.

Wateman Watercolor: Gives very high contrast prints, which look "grainy"
when dry, although smooth when wet.. I can get nice, deep browns, but
shadows tend to loose detail. Is the image washing out during
processing?

Arches Watercolor: Gives very low constrast prints. I'm not getting
tones lighter than lightish brown, and shadows aren't very dark. Nice
smooth tones - not grainy. A ruddy brown.

Sommerset Velvet: Yields low constrat prints. I had splotching problems,
but I may have done a bad job coating the paper.

Fabriano Artistico: Looses a lot of image in processing, and results in
a light, washed out looking image.

Rives BFK: Similar results to the Wateman - a somewhat grainy appearance
- but lighter. The shadow areas didn't get really dark.

Strathmore Imperial: Very ugly black splotches. Unsuitable.

What I would like to get is the smoothness of the Arches image with the
image density range of the Wateman image. The Arches image is very nice,
except I can't get white and "black" (well, brown).

I have been trying to figure out if sizing could (partially) explain the
behavior of the papers. Perhaps the Wateman and the Rives have little
sizing, so the mid tones tend to wash out in processing?

Can anyone suggest other papers I should try? Or can I do something with
one of these papers to get better results?

Thanks much.

Willard Korfhage
Cambridge, Massachusetts