From: Judy Seigel (jseigel@panix.com)
Date: 02/08/00-02:54:20 PM Z
On Tue, 8 Feb 2000, Vrueh, G.J. de wrote:
> Recently a friend gave me a few sheets of arches platine to try out. He told
> me he wasn't satisfied about it, and showed me some (classic) cyanotypes
> that indeed were not good. very light and there wer strange spots were there
> was almost no color.
>
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I suspect your problems may not be the paper, or let me say, in my
experience (and with hundreds of free-form undergrads who like to pick up
a piece of paper from an East Village sidewalk) there is almost NO PAPER
that cyanotype doesn't like. The rare failure is from one that's been
resincoated (like "corrasible bond" for easy erasure, or BFK, for reasons
known only to the paper gods.
As for sizing the paper, however, I have tried them all (repeatedly) and
NEVER found a size: cornstarch, gelatin, acrylic, boiled starch, aquapel,
whatever whatever whatever that gave as good results as directly on the
paper. So if some size has been added to this paper, that could be the
problem.
When I say any paper for cyano, I'll add that rag content typing paper is
EXCELLENT, so is (lovely but expensive & maybe not available) Buxton,
Strathmore drawing paper, Fabriano in all its unos and duos, watercolor is
OK if you want rough, a good PH neutral bristol is great, Whatman fine
print has superb long scale, brown wrapping paper is splendid-- takes the
emulsion beautifully & the color combo is also beautiful -- on and on and
on.
However, that said, I understand that Platine is different summer &
winter, among other things. Meanwhile,
Are you air drying? Heat drying can give all sorts of problems.
What formula are you using? The "new" cyanotype is fussier about paper,
but the old cyanotype should be in its simplest incarnation, the ones with
added acid may give trouble.
do you suppose something could have happened to this paper in utero? I
mean maaybe it got into something before you got it, or vice versa.
Have you tested the emulsion on another paper? That would tell you if
it's the paper or the emulsion. Try plain old typing paper, tho not the
cheapest, which can have too much alum. We are continually surprised,
by the way, at the depth of color & tone a quite thin paper can yield in
cyano -- often much deeper and richer than a thick absorbent paper,
contrary to expectations.
good luck,
Judy
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