Dmax of Van Dykes

[Sandy King <sanking@clemson.edu>]

Keith Gerling wrote:

>
>With Van Dyke, I've never been able to get anywhere near the DMAX of
>kallitype, even when the silver is still in the solution.  Is this typically
>the case, or am I doing something wrong?  Regardless of the paper used, Van
>Dykes seem to have less than half the shadow density of a kallitype, and
>this is even with a double coating of Van Dyke sensitizer.
>
>

Something does see odd here. My limited experience with Kallitype and 
Van Dyke is that the Dmax can be just as good with one as the other. 
I just mixed up a new batch of the sensitizer today and made a few 
Van Dykes from a 7X17 negative with a DR of approximately 1.6 (0.35 - 
1.95). I gold-toned the prints after washing (but before fixing) and 
got a really good Dmax, certainly as good as I get with traditional 
Kallitype with the same type of toning.

Sandy King