Darlington Media Group (postmaster@mediaworkshop.demon.co.uk)
Tue, 09 Mar 1999 21:18:28 +0000
Hi Adam,
I have made several Argyrotypes albeit some years ago now, and actually
attended a workshop on the process by the good Doctor himself. They are
really simple to make and should pose no problem to someone of your
experience. It really is an updated version of the Van Dyke brown print
process but uses silver sulphamate instead of silver nitrate.
It is somewhat paper specific but I know that Whatmans H.P., a soft sized
paper, and Arches Platine work well enough. Negatives should be of similar
contrast to palladium and I suspect that Pyro developed negatives should
work rather well but I have no experience of digital negatives I'm afraid.
I do know that "Michael Taylor"<michael.photography@btinternet.com> is
quite an expert on this process and has made many extremeley large
Argyrotype prints. I am sure that he would not mind you seeking his advice.
The image is usually a rich mahogany colour which can be cooled by
subsequent toning with gold and possibly selenium too, but I did not have
much success with the latter. I do have one Argyrotype print (untoned) that
has faded badly, but that may have been a processing error on my part.
The sensitiser can be quite easily made, the expensive siver salt, silver
oxide can be made from the more common silver nitrate by the addition of
sodium hydroxide (I think) but I am sure Liam Lawless will give you the
exact details.
Contrast control is possible but a little quirky cf Pt/Pd, with the
addition of more sulphamic acid.
Hope this is enough to get you started.
Best Wishes...... Tony McLean.
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