Permanence of Bleached Silver Prints

CGrey2@aol.com
Tue, 17 Feb 1998 12:52:13 -0500 (EST)

I have several questions about the permanence of bleached silver prints. These
questions arose as I started to experiment with the bromoil process and took a
liking to the appearance of the bleached-but-not-yet-fixed silver gelatin
prints. The effect resembles a faded print in which nothing remains but a
faint stencil of the shadows. The bleach I use is out of Keepers of Light
(Copper Sulfate, Acetic Acid, Potassium Bromide, Potassium dichromate and
water.) Of course, when these prints are then fixed, the effect which I like
disappears as the paper turns completely white.

My questions are as follows:

1. Are there any suggestions for achieving this kind of effect which will be
permanent? For example, using bleach from a 2-part sepia toning? Would the
print need to be fixed after bleaching?

2. What happens to the silver as it is bleached? I know that it is converted
to another metal in the bleaching process and that it can be re-converted to
the original silver through re-development. But what exactly is the bleached
silver?

3. Can anyone suggest a good reference book in which I can look up these and
other similar questions. One of my concerns is to learn enough about the
chemical reactions taking place to know whether a non-standard use of standard
chemicals will lead to an archival print. (assuming proper paper, storage,
etc.)

Many thanks in advance to all who can shed some light on this for me.

Christopher Giglio
cgrey2@aol.com