Thanks for your reply.
The whole bromoil paper situation can be somewhat baffling. It seems that
what works for one bromoil worker may not work quite so well for another. It
all boils down to the individual methodology of inking in my opinion.
My general observations on bromoil-friendly papers based on *my methods of
inking:*
Kentmere Document art: I don't like the heavy imprinted surface pattern. The
thinness of this paper causes drying out at too rapid a rate.
Kentmere Art Classic: I like this paper for bromoil. I like the surface
texture and the paper color. Easy to ink and it's tough.
Agfa MCC 118: My favorite at the moment. Variable contrast papers gives one a
greater degree of lattitude with negative selection. Lightly supercoated and
takes the ink with ease. I'm very surprised that this is not available in
your area?
Ilford MC matt: Takes a bit of getting used to as this paper takes the ink so
easily and the ink clings in the upper values. Requires more vigorous hopping
and clearing of upper values. I use this paper often and like it for bromoil.
Kentmere Test Run: I only had about six sheets of the matt finish. Took the
ink with ease. I liked this paper very much.
Forte Variable Contrast: Very bromoil friendly.
Forte Bromofort: Haven't tried it but I understand that it works well for
bromoil and transfer. I have some on order.
Caswell Finesse: I haven't tried this new bromoil paper but have received
extremely glowing reports from English friends who have tested it. This is
the new paper that Bostick & Sullivan will distribute in the states. It
should be a winner!
I gather that you fellows ink with a brayer more so than the Brits and the
Americans. Perhaps even hard brayers? I would think that this method requires
a much tougher gelatin surface and that you hard brayer guys may even be
better off using supercoated papers?
Supercoated papers are the victims of bad press and many supercoated papers
actually work extremely well for bromoil. It's jusy a matter of compensating
for the supercoating by giving the print more exposure.
Inks:
I generally mix my own inks at the start of each bromoil inking session. It
only takes a very few minutes and it's so easy to do. It's really a matter of
starting with a litho ink (I use Graphic #1796) and modifying the ink
consistency and color to suit my methods and objectives for the print.
Cheers! Gene Laughter
In a message dated 97-11-09 07:04:22 EST, you write:
> At the moment we are testing several Bromoil papers on the
> market.
> Some members still own a small rest of paper made by a German company
> several years ago.
> Some are using Kentmere Doc Art with more or less success, some are using
> lithfilm for Bromoil transfer. We cannot buy MCC118 in Germany.
Most the time they are using brayers and brushes only for special
effects.
Litho inks?
> I have a can right in front of me that says:
> Federfarbe 4246
> Offset Buchdruck
> made by Michael Huber Munich
> I got inks from David Lewis in Canada and they work fairly good too.
> Most are working in sizes of 8x10", 11x14" or 16x20". We have one guy
> working in sizes of 32x40"!! and bigger: Martin Pudenz.