Re: VDB vs. Argyrotypes

From: Wynn White (wynn@boardermail.com)
Date: 12/03/02-07:26:05 PM Z

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I make argyrotypes and Vandykes and have found the key to using a variety of papers with argyrotype is to not dry with a hair dryer. I've had the best luck printing when the paper is still slightly moist; the moister the paper the cooler the image color and the greater the contrast. With slightly moist paper I have made argyrotypes that were neutral gray before toning.

I have found that the addition of acid as a contrast enhancer makes the prints grainy. I have added hydrogen peroxide to the argyrotype sensitizer and it printed fine but I'm not sure if I got much of a boost in contrast. That is something that I plan to experiment more with in the future. I have gotten the greatest contrast with the standard argyrotype sensitizer on Lenox paper.

I generally find argyrotype to give slightly more contrast than Vandyke. I also like the fact that argyrotype works better with a single coat rather than the double coating that I apply to Vandykes. I use both processes depending on the negative and the paper that I wish to print on.

I have tried toning with Kodak selenium toner and a variety of sulfide toners before fixing and have gotten staining in the area around the image that I mask off with red construction paper. The sulfide toners gave the worst stain. I have toned with gold, platinum and palladium before fixing and have gotten no staining with those toners.

I use a 5% hypo solution as a fixer for Vandykes but find that this is too strong for argyrotypes and bleaches the image. 2.5% seems to work well. For both of these processes I have found that if prints are not adequately fixed staining will occur. This is evident after a day or so when the masked area of the print is viewed  through strong light.

Best regards from Japan,

Wynn White
----- Original Message -----

From: Alan

Date: Tue, 03 Dec 2002 09:52:10 -0500

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

Subject: Re: VDB vs. Argyrotypes








I tried Argyrotype for the first time last week, and I really liked the results.  The sensitivity of the process to paper humidity was interesting.  I used the (expensive) Buxton paper that Ware recommends.  In mixing the sensitizer solution I was a bit short on Ferric Ammonium Citrate (22g was needed), so instead I used 20g of Ferric Ammonium Citrate and 2g of Ferric Ammonium Oxalate.  Not being a seasoned Kallitypist I did not know that I was going to create some Silver Oxalate which would then precipitate out of solution (its a yellow precipitate).  However, the sensitizer sill worked great, perhaps because I used it all within two days of mixing it.  I did not make any other changes to Ware&rsquo

I have worked with argyrotype on several occasions but found it to be much trickier to work than vandyke and traditional kallitype, and I found it to be extremely paper sensitive. If you are getting good results it would be nice if you could post a brief outline of your specific working procedures, and perhaps some comments about what argyrotype offers that vandyke and kallitype do not.







Sandy King