Gary Miller (gmphotos@earthlink.net)
Fri, 21 May 1999 19:21:14 -0700
Jeff;
I was using 20 drops of afo, 20 drops of LiPd and 2 drops of Tween 20 when
I began making Ziatypes about a month ago and I was seeing this blotchy,
uneven coating effect also, including the colored blotchiness, especially
when adding gold to the mix. At Carl's suggestion I lowered my drop count
,to 16 +16 +1, and my prints now look nice and smooth with no blotchiness or
color mottling. I have not yet been able to lower the drop counts to Carl's
recommended 12 +12 range, but I am new at all of this, including glass rod
coating, and pre-humidifying papers, etc., so I think that my inabilities
are just part of a larger learning curve. I mentioned to Carl offlist that
I recently printed an image that was about 85% pure black, and I added 5%
gold chloride to the 16+16 drop mix (I think that it was 2 or 3 drops), and
my pure black areas, where unevenness would be quite evident, are totally
uniform in color and coating. Also the more Zias that I make the better I
become at judging proper humidification of the paper and cold air drying.
It does seem somewhat counter logical that you could use too much of the
stuff. But as we all know alternative processes are strange beasts and each
process has its own particular set of quaint eccentricities. Thanks for
doing all the research. I am anxious to see what you come up with next.
Gary Miller
----- Original Message -----
From: Jeffrey D. Mathias <jeffrey.d.mathias@worldnet.att.net>
To: alt-photo-process list <alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca>
Sent: Friday, May 21, 1999 10:40 AM
Subject: Re: Modified Zia Formula
> Carl and Richard,
>
> Thanks for letting me know you've got good results with half the coating
> chemistry. With the concern to get more Pd into the coating, which I
> still believe necessary, I have overlooked the possibility of optimizing
> the overall coating amount. Indeed I have also found that too little
> chemistry gives a weak print and there is a certain level of chemistry
> that beyond doesn't improve the print. It is interesting that too much
> chemistry could be a problem. And perhaps too much is the culprit
> causing the splotchy color, especially if you both have not seen
> splotchy color.
>
> I will make appropriate adjustments in the next test. In fact, checking
> my notes, I have most frequently used a total of 24 drops for 8x10 on
> most papers. 48 drops is the exception for some other work I had been
> doing. Fabric needs 60 to 70 drops because it soaks in so much. It
> seems as though too much is not a good thing.
>
> I ALSO FEEL THAT THE PREVIOUS RESULTS MIGHT BE TAINTED BY THIS OVER
> ABUNDANCE OF COATING CHEMISTRY. I will let you know.
>
> As to some of Carl's suggestions.
> I will continue using a brush as I am still not convinced a rod will
> give me a better print.
> I use a set time because of consistency (remember I'm doing tests). I
> agree that for a print it is best to individually tailor each exposure
> using the printout. More exposure can produce lower contrast (due to
> the printout blocking - self masking) and I wish to see if contrast or
> speed are affected by the chemical changes.
>
>
> --
> Jeffrey D. Mathias
> http://home.att.net/~jeffrey.d.mathias/
>
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