Re: Fresson Conjecture & Testing
Dennis Klinker (DennisKlinker@denklik.demon.co.uk)
Thu, 03 Jul 1997 09:25:23 +0100
In message <Pine.3.07.9706230730.A7037-c100000@login>, Art Chakalis
<achakali@freenet.columbus.oh.us> writes
>
>Dennis,
>
>I apologize for being so short. your note seemed to infer that a simple
>phone call might be a new idea. I've had their address, phone number and
>price list for quite a while now. They will share the process only
>through the sale of prints, information is not a consideration. I may
>have approached it all wrong though, you may give it a try at your
>convenience.
>
>If you are interested I can add to your list of reading. I believe that
>you will find that the information has been successfully kept a secret by
>the Fresson family. However, there are numerous published formula's
>and conjecture, I'm trying to add some scientific testing to the pot and
>debunk some of the myth. The exact details of what they do may never be
>known but as in most chemical or mechanical processes, there are several
>paths to the same end result.
>
>Despite the secrecy, what the Fresson family has done must be admired.
>Their prints are truly beautiful. I hope to achieve the same quality
>standard that they have set.
>
>Any other fresh ideas or approaches?
>
>Sincerely, Art
>
>
>
>Art Chakalis
>Columbus, Ohio, USA
>
>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>Date: Sun, 22 Jun 1997 19:41:49 -0400 (EDT)
>From: Art Chakalis <achakali@freenet.columbus.oh.us>
>To: Dennis Klinker <DennisKlinker@denklik.demon.co.uk>
>Cc: Jadlupp@aol.com, pete@fotem.demon.co.uk,
> alt-photo-process-l@skyway.usask.ca
>Subject: Re: Fresson Conjecture & Testing
>
>On Sun, 22 Jun 1997, Dennis Klinker wrote:
>
>> In message <970621125330_288961880@emout08.mail.aol.com>,
>> Jadlupp@aol.com writes
>> >In "The Handbook of Alternate Photographic Processes" by Jan Arnov (Van
>> >Nostrand Reinhold, 1982), there is a chapter on Fresson prints. She uses a
>> >gelatine and pigment, white sugar, alcohol, honey and sugar syrup (Karol)
>> >mix. The warm mixture is brushed on the paper, and allowed to dry. Then a
>> >sensitizing solution of Potassium dichromate is applied by immersion, dried,
>> >exposed, and then soaked in room temperature water for four minutes. The
>> >image is abraded away by using a warm "sawdust soup" mix, and then everything
>> >cleaned and sealed in cool water.
>> >
>> >Don Upp
>> >Michigan
>> In History and Practice Of Platinum Printing 2nd revised edition Luis
>> Nadeau states on a footnote on page 22 There are only two labs in the
>> world that can produce Fresson Paper. One operated by descendants of the
>> original inventor,is located in France and the other owned by this
>> author,is located in Canada. Through ignorance, or carelessness,some
>> authors refer to Fresson printing while they are merely describing a
>> variation of some direct carbon process(eg., Jan Arnow,Handbook Of
>> Alternative Photographic Processes,New York,Van Nostrand Reinhold
>> 1982,pp.162-167) for more information consult the Authors History and
>> Practice of Carbon Processes.I can also recommend A History of
>> Photographic Bichromate processes by Arthur T. Gill published by the RPS
>> historical group in 1978 and also Pigment Printing Processes by T.I.
>> Williams also published by the RPS in 1978 many clues are contained
>> within for you Fresson Sleuths.Or you could considercontacting the
>> Fresson Laboratoire at 21, rue de la Montagne Pavee 91600 Savigny Sur
>> Orge Tel 69.96.12.60 perhaps they will tell you how it is done ?.
>> --
>> Dennis Klinker
>
>Cutting straight to the point, you are joking. Sincerely, Art
>
>
>
>
>Art Chakalis
>Columbus, Ohio, USA
>
>
>
Hi Art I can only agree with you,original Fresson prints have a great
beauty and i can understand why they are still popular today,and as you
mention it is a valid area for experimentation.I have recently seen some
great prints by John Grocott who is using a direct pigment process and
have seen a lovely nude study by Dr Dunstan Perera with sumptuous blacks
that look like they will soil the hands if touched.A booklet that i
obtained recently obtained called the Fresson Process by Tom
Champion from the History of Photography Monograph series published by
the Arizona State University. It is good for history but less helpfull
if one is expecting blueprints and a working procedure of the magic
coating machine. Yours Dennis
--
Dennis Klinker