Re: Gum Development Question (reply)

FotoDave (FotoDave@aol.com)
Fri, 15 May 1998 09:39:21 -0400 (EDT)

In a message dated 98-05-15 01:50:48 EDT, Hamish.Sophie@wanadoo.fr writes:

<< In my experience the first coat develops further only with physical
controls - please see further comments below >

Hi Hamish, thanks for your reply!

In a print that I just did, it *appeared* (not measured) that the first coat
also got lighter with auto development of the second coat. It so happened that
it helped in this particular image, so it didn't bother me. :)

I printed the first coat for the highlights (whites of petals); it looked like
it was getting too pale, so I pulled the print out; but after it dried, I felt
it was a little too dark. I then proceed with 2nd coat and develop normally
(auto development). Then I noticed that the white of petals became lighter,
but I am not sure whether it actually got lighter or it was optical illusion
(the darker second coat makes the first coat looks relatively light).

But it was fun nevertheless. :)

If I find time to do a formal test, I will let the list know of the result.

>> Now this an interesting observation! I have made gum prints this way for
a number of years - deliberately pulling prints out before they are fully
developed. The next coat is applied and exposed, and when I undertake
development of the second coat, physical development can strip back the
unharden parts of the 1st layer that wasn't fully washed out. This can
provide quite interesting effects, especailly if you use contrasting
colours for the layers.

A while ago while discussion about pigment staining, Pete suggested to print a
coat of clear gum (without pigment), and he said that when you develop, it
will pull the stain out (I am paraphrasing from memory). That seems to support
that during the development of the 2nd coat, the first coat still gets
affected somehow.

But he didn't mention whether the 2nd coat was developed automatically or
physically. Pete?

Dave