re:fresson

[Richard Sullivan <richsul@earthlink.net>]

Many Fresson-like processes have been published over the years. Most 
sources say thee clones are nowhere as good as the real Fressons. The 
originals that I saw were in color and were quite striking.

The sawdust is no secret, they showed me the development of a print with 
sawdust. I also got to see the enlarger. It is in the form of a cross laid 
flat, (Red Cross style) It has a metal halide light in the center with four 
easels at the ends with negative holders and lenses that can slide along 
the track radiating out from the center to focus the negs on the paper in 
the easels. Four at once.

I believe it is a one shot exposure for full color as I didn't see any 
filters in the optical train although those could have been mono prints 
cooking. I judged the exposures to be in the hours though I didn't time any 
or ask about exposure times. I didn't want to be excessively nosey.

There are plenty of rumors floating around France among the old timers as 
to how the process works. From my experience roller coating carbon tissue, 
I think I have a good idea of how it is done. At least the enlarging speed 
part.

Luis Nadeau, formerly of this list has the Fresson process obtained through 
a Spanish source and there seems to be some contention about this from the 
Fresson family. I do not think Nadeau is actively producing Fresson prints 
however.

I did ask about Arvel tissue and the elder Fresson grinned went to the back 
and came out with a package or Arvel tissue! c. 1915! Fresson produced it 
for the market.

Oh to have a weekend roaming through their drawers and files.....maybe a month?

--Dick Sullivan









>Didn't I once read that part of the Fresson Process involved the use of a
>sawdust/water slurry to remove the unexposed areas of pigment.  Is that the
>"secret" that makes the Fresson Print what it is?
>
>argon