Alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca July 2001: Re: Cyanotype total fai

From: Robert W. Schramm (schrammrus@hotmail.com)
Date: 07/30/01-06:09:02 PM Z

Since you are using tap water for everything, I might suggest that you test it. If it is slightly basic, that would explain all of your problems. Adding a little acid to your tap water might solve the problem, although I would probably use distilled water to mix A and B and add a little acid to the tap water wash.

Good luck,

Bob Schramm

Check out my web page at:

http://www.SchrammStudio.com

also look at:

http://www.wlsc.wvnet.edu/www/pubrel/photo.html

>From: Tom Ferguson

>Reply-To: alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca

>To: alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca

>Subject: Re: Cyanotype total failure

>Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2001 09:36:57 +0000

>From: "Robert W. Schramm"

>Subject: Re: Cyanotype total failure

> >Question: Are you using distilled water to mix solutions A and B?

> >Have you tested your tap water for pH? Are you washing in tap water?

>Yes, using tap water for everything. Not tested, but never a problem I've

>noticed.

> > From: Robert Lyman

> > Subject: Re: Cyanotype total failure

> >

> > Same thing happened to a friend of mine. Apparently, when they go, they

> > fast.

>Perhaps that is what happened (see below)

>From: BobWicks@aol.com

>Subject: Re: Cyanotype total failure

> >When you mix the two ingredients your emulsion will only last about an hour

> >or two. I wonder if this might be your problem. I keep mine separate until I

> >am ready to use them and my chemistry is 4 years old stored in Amber bottles.

>Right, I do keep them separate and mix just before coating.

>My best guess is that "ryberg" was correct with his guess in a private

>e-mail. I think I made a "stupid" mistake (my term, not ryberg's). I suspect

>that I carefully measured out my "A" solution, then put the "A" down and

>instead of picking up the "B" and adding it in, picked up the "A" again and

>measured it thinking it was "B". This does account for the printout image

>being too yellow and then washing right off the paper.

>A shame, I had coated six full sheets of good paper for 16x20 prints. They

>were to be part of an order I have to ship on Wednesday. I couldn't print

>over the weekend, because of out of town house guests. So, I should now get

>my butt in the darkroom and do these over again!

>Thanks everyone for the help.

>--

>Tom Ferguson

>http://www.ferguson-photo-design.com