RE: NA2 For Pt/Pd BLENDS

Sandy, Each different developer has the ability to introduce a different
contrast range as well color. Ammonium Citrate has a different contrast
than Pot Ox, and Sodium Acetate. Why on earth do I want to change the
contrast with two things at once to control color when I can do it with just
one? I might as well add a little AFO and really move things around. I find
that adding an amount of H2 (Platinic Acid) instead of Na2 ( new magic
bullet) allows for contrast control and doesn't mess with the color of the
prints with blends.

I realize that we all come to our printing methods from many different paths
and far be it from me to preach the virtue of one above another. If printers
are wanting to call their prints PT/PD prints due to the addition of several
drops of a highly diluted PT solution then so be it but my name is not in
that camp.

Eric Neilsen Photography
4101 Commerce Street
Suite 9
Dallas, TX 75226
http://e.neilsen.home.att.net
http://ericneilsenphotography.com
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sandy King [mailto:sanking@clemson.edu]
> Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2003 9:13 AM
> To: alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca
> Subject: RE: NA2 For Pt/Pd BLENDS
>
> Eric,
>
>
> No, I am not saying that Na2 does not effectively control contrast
> with a blend of PT/PD, only that my initial observation that it did
> could not be supported from the data in my tests.
>
> But what I am suggesting is that there is really no any reason to put
> any platinum in the blend other than Na2. You can get excellent
> contrast control with just palladium and Na2, the addition of Na2
> allows you to call it a PT/PD print, and if you are after a
> particular color you can get it by choice of developer rather than by
> blending platinum and palladium.
>
> Sandy
>
>
>
>
>
> >Sandy, Am I right to understand then, that what you are saying is that
> Na2
> >does not effectively control contrast with a blend of PT and PD? I have
> not
> >see Dick Arentz' writing, nor that of B&S, other than the paper posted on
> >the B&S site.
> >
> >Eric Neilsen Photography
> >4101 Commerce Street
> >Suite 9
> >Dallas, TX 75226
> >http://e.neilsen.home.att.net
> >http://ericneilsenphotography.com
> >
> >
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Sandy King [mailto:sanking@clemson.edu]
> >> Sent: Saturday, December 06, 2003 1:59 PM
> >> To: alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca
> >> Subject: Re: NA2 For Pt/Pd BLENDS
> >>
> >> Bob,
> >>
> >> I meant to say the opposite, that is, you get about the same
> >> contrast, speed and color with 100% palladium as with a 1:3 blend of
> >> platinum and palladium. The color is very warm brown in both when
> >> developed in a 25% solution of potassium oxalate at 120F. If you go
> >> all the way to a 1:1 blend of platinum and palladium the color is
> >> just a tad less warm. This is without the addition of any Na2.
> >>
> >> With sodium citrate at room temperature, which I have also used with
> >> palladium, the color of both pure palladium and pt/pd blends is much
> >> less warm, and with ammonium citrate at room temperature the color of
> >> pure palladium is almost neutral, just slightly warm.
> >>
> >> Conditions of RH and temperature may give different results, but the
> >> above is what I see in my working conditions of about 70F and 55-65%
> >> RH.
> >>
> >> Considering all of this it makes sense to use pure palladium, control
> >> contrast with Na2, and get the color you want with choice of
> >> developer.
> >>
> >> Sandy King
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> >DEAR SANDY (et al.)
> >> > Thanks so much for sharing all of your experience on this
> topic.
> >> > Sandy, I use Sodium Citrate developer at 100 F and have
> repeatedly
> >> >found definite differences in image color between 100% Pd and 1:3
> >> >Pt/Pd, all other variables being constant.
> >> > What I understand from your last posting is that I will get
> >> >contrast changes with my blend similar to what one gets using Na2
> with
> >> >pure Pd. Thanks. This will be a great starting point for testing
> >> >saving me a lot of wandering in the forest.
> >> > Thanks again!
> >> > CHEERS!
> >> > BOB
> >> >
> >> >----- Original Message -----
> >> >From: Sandy King <sanking@clemson.edu>
> >> >Date: Friday, December 5, 2003 6:03 pm
> >> >Subject: Re: NA2 For Pt/Pd BLENDS
> >> >
> >> >> Clay,
> >> >>
> >> >> In looking back through my notes I now realize that I put my mouth
> >> >> ahead of sound analysis. It is now apparent to me from my own data
> >> >> that my method of testing Na2 in Pt/Pd blends used such small
> >> >> quantities that the amount of pure palladium continued to be the
> >> >> dominating factor, so in essence I got the same ES with pure
> >> >> palladium and blends that contained as much as 50% platinum.
> >> >>
> >> >> Fortunately my observations had nothing to do with the essential
> >> >> testing I did, which was to compare the impact of different UV
> >> >> sources on various blends of palladium and platinum, except for
> >> >> the
> >> >> fact that the amount of Na2 used was too small to merit analysis.
> >> >>
> >> >> However, without Na2, or any other contrast controlling agent in
> >> >> the
> >> >> mix, I got virtually the same exposure scale speed, and color from
> >> >> the use of: 1) 100% pure palladium; 2) a 1:3 blend of Pt/Pd; and
> >> >> 3)
> >> >> a 1:1 blend of Pt/Pd. This was with a developer of 25% potassium
> > > >> oxalate, used at 120 F.
> >> >>
> >> >> Which is to say again, I really can't see any reason for putting
> >> >> any
> >> >> platinum in the blend except for the Na2 which is needed for
> >> >> contrast
> >> >> control.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> Sandy
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> >On Dec 5, 2003, at 2:16 PM, Sandy King wrote:
> >> >> >
> >> >> >>Clay,
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >>That is interesting, but it definitely worked here.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >>Have you tested this?
> >> >> >
> >> >> >Not personally. I'm just parroting what I read last night. Next
> >> >> time
> >> >> >I do some printing, I'll run an endpoints test and do a test with
> >> >> >pt/pd/FO at 3/3/6 and one with Na2/Pt/Pd/FO at 2/2/2/6 and see
> >> >> what
> >> >> >I get.
> >> >> >
> >> >> >Clay
Received on Sun Dec 7 10:21:02 2003