Gelatin questions

Wm. Clark (ktnetvfm@hamilton.net)
Mon, 06 Apr 1998 11:06:35 -0600

A few questions regarding gelatin for alt-photo uses:

1. Specifically for carbon transfer, I am told that "hard" gelatin is
better then "soft" gelatin. Is that correct? Why?

2. At my friendly grocer's, I can buy Knox unflavored food-use gelatin
for roughly $16usa per pound. Is this "soft" gelaltine? Any guess at a
Bloom number?

3. From the folks in Montana, I can buy 250-bloom gelatine for about
$25 per pound. From the folks in New Mexico, I can buy "de-ionized
ossein" for about $45 per pound. Specifically for carbon-transfer
printing, is there any advantage to the de-ionized ossein versus the
250-bloom gelatin?

4. For what photographic needs *would* de-ionized ossein be the hot
ticket?

I'm not so much trying to be "cheap" as I am trying to spend my meager
income in the most-effective way. Any help would be most appreciated!

Thanks,

Bill Clark
Scottsbluff, Nebraska, USA
wmclark@prairieweb.com