Re: Streaking

William Laven (wmlaven@platinotype.com)
Tue, 10 Feb 1998 15:14:11 -0800 (PST)

>I was trying some platinotype paper with a pure palladium and noted
>streaking on the final print. A few of the strokes of the brush were
>evident in the highlight areas of skies. Am I not applying enough
>sensitizer ? I am using a 7x17 negative and am using 36 drops of ferric
>oxalate #1 solution, no restrainer, and 36 drops of palladium and 3 drops
>of hydrogen peroxide. I applied the sensitizer with a puddle pusher
>initially and then smoothed it out with a hake brush and then air dried
>with a hair dryer. This normally does not happen with Bienfang so perhaps
>the platinotype paper requires more sensitizer. Any one know? I have heard
>the hydrogen peroxide must be fresh in order to act as a restrainer. Is
>this true and does the age of the H2O2 matter at all?
>Stephen Harrison

All papers require different treatment which may include different amounts
of sensitizer, different approahces to coating and drying, etc. so its no
surprise that your results with Platinotype were different from those with
Bienfang. It will just take some experimentation to figure out what exactly
needs to change.

I had read long ago in Palladio's literature some stuff about Hydrogen
Peroxide's aging properties, etc. Sincer their pre-coated paper comes in
one "grade" the only control one has over changing contrast is through
developers. One technique they use often is to add Hydrogen Peroxide as a
restrainer/contrast control agent. They claimed that after extended use,
the loosely bound molecules of Hydrogen Peroxide would make it turn into
water to which a chemist friend of mine replied "Phoeey" (he actually
wasn't so polite). My friend said that one need not worry about aging and
the oxidation of Hydrogen Peroxide given the weakness of the solution and
even suggested it might become stronger over time, though his explanations
went over the head of me who failed high school chemistry (and it sounds
like english, too). Perhaps someone else on the list can provide a
chemist's explanation in lay terms.

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WILLIAM LAVEN PHOTOGRAPHY

Offering Platinum/Palladium printing services and workshops and tutorials
in Pt/Pd printing and other areas of photography (Zone System, etc.)

1931 23rd Street, San Francisco, CA, 94107
415-647-9432 (voice) 415-647-9438 (fax)
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