>>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).<<
This is great stuff and what the list is really about,
I think you will find the effect that your observed was simultaneous
contrast, not exactly an illusion but an effect of perception. I sometimes
use it when I have gone bit dark on the middle to highlight tones I
deliberately print very dark on the shadows and magically the tones
lighten, It is also what makes High Key printmaking so touchy.
>> 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.<<
Very interesting Hamish
>>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?<<
Normally I develop by using a decorators paint pad as I do not use pure gum but
Gloy artificial gum ,which is more robust than the pure gum this does not
mean it is any better or worse than the traditional gum just different. I
have not tried this cleaning method with pure gum so I cannot say if it
will work . However at recent Temperaprint workshop I was running we found
a very interesting cleansing effect which I would like to share with you.
Jane Reece who owns the nautilus press and paper mill where I
hold occasional Temperaprint workshops was helping me to clear up, she took
my paint pad and soaked it in neat feiry liquid detergent, then one of my
students decided to do one last print, there is always one who is totally
fanatical and cant get enough :-) so we used the detergent soaked paint
pad, the non image emulsion just fell of the print and also it cleaned up
so that it appeared and seemed much sharper, this happened on the first
day of the workshop so on the second we tried it again and bingo it worked
again, and a much lower dilution of detergent, if other list members would
like to try this I would appreciate some feedback.
pete
http://www.fotem.demon.co.uk/ To visit petes parlour gallery