Re: Tintype

Dan Estabrook (desta@ix.netcom.com)
Sat, 15 Nov 1997 20:14:36 -0500

Don wrote:

> Dan,
>
> Have you tried the Rockland kit? I once tried to make ambrotypes with
> several "positive" developers and gelatin-silver glass plates (Tri-X, I
> think). I was not impressed, though I'm not sure I achieved the very best
> results the materials would provide. The large silver halide crystals in
> prepared emulsions seems less well suited to positive development than the
> smaller crystals in wet collodion. On the other hand, paper emulsions do
> have smaller crystals, and I believe the liquid emulsion is basically a
> paper emulsion. If you have tried the kit, I'd love to hear your
> impressions.
>
> Don
>

Don -

I have used their kit and received great results, but not without a lot of
sweat and failure. The kit is basically a small bottle of their AG+ emulsion,
a proprietary whitening developer (which you can order separately, if you
like), and a few sheets of tin prepared to accept the emulsion. You can use
another surface as long as it's prepared accordingly (i.e. "subbed" or coated
with a polyurethane- or alkyd-based paint).

Personally, I prefer Silverprint's liquid emulsion - it's faster and a bit
more consistent. At least I've had fewer headaches since I switched from
Liquid Light!

I'm sure there are others with experience, though we might expect the purists
to express some displeasure...

Dan