Re: bleach etch notes, shorter post

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From: Judy Seigel (jseigel@panix.com)
Date: 03/23/01-12:43:27 AM Z


On Thu, 22 Mar 2001, Christina Z. Anderson wrote:
> Fiber paper will bleach without etching, in that article (this contradicts

so will ANY silver gelatin paper. The ETCH is because the peroxide combo
EATS (destroys) metallic silver (the black), but doesn't eat silver halide
(the unfixed white). Our many classic bleach & redevelop toners bleach
without etching, in fact there are copper bleach formulas which ALSO have
acetic acid (but no peroxide) -- used in all sorts of toning.

> allows the normal hydrogen peroxide available in drugstores. The difference

ALLOWS !??? The point is TOTAL concentration of peroxide. It's all the
same whether you use a small amount of STRONG peroxide and more water in
the bleach, or a LARGE amount of WEAK peroxide in less water.... Trust me.
But if folks want to get arcane chemicals for this "arcane" process...
well, that may enhance the effect.

> But the ones in Shutterbug, and the ones on line in Jonathan's mentions seem
> more photographic and less 1970's psychedelic--could it just be the amount
> of emulsion that is rubbed off, or the rubbing itself that is the dif? Who

Also how strongly printed, how long and hard bleached, the temperature of
the water you soak print in after the bleach (HOT helps), the grade of the
paper, contrast of original neg, whether you're a good person, etc. -- the
usual variables. I would assume you could stop with any of these at a
partway point, before reaming out the black.

All you describe or Cootes describes or whoever describes may work and be
nice, or not, but the principles and generalisations are largely bacocked.

Judy


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