From: Judy Seigel (jseigel@panix.com)
Date: 02/24/03-07:56:20 PM Z
Heidi, Does that starch size stay on the paper through several soaks, or
does it have to be renewed for each ? That question was asked on the list
maybe 6 years ago, but nobody seemed to know the answer... I used a
starch size for a while.... and liked the effect, which seemed to be quite
pointilist... a bit more than I liked at the time, however,though maybe
that was just the way I was using it...
Of course what may muddy the issue is that the exposure itself can have a
tanning effect -- maybe you don't NEED as much size for later layers...?
Anyway, thanks for the formula, and--- any info appreciated.
cheers,
Judy
On Mon, 24 Feb 2003, Heidi Weller wrote:
> Hi Gord
> I use corn starch - usually Argo brand - straight from the grocery store, 1
> T. per 2 c. water, and boil for 2 minutes. I add 1 tsp. alum and a couple
> of drops of thymol for hardener and preservative. I usually brush on 2
> coats while very hot. I have never had a problem with this size, either
> with uneven/poor coverage or a shiny "unnatural" appearance that I have
> heard others have experienced. I started using this recipe some time ago
> after reading about it in Keepers of the Light. There was about 2 feet of
> snow on the ground, and starch was the only thing I had to work with. I
> have been very satisfied with the results. And it's easy.
> Heidi
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Gordon J. Holtslander <holtsg@duke.usask.ca>
> To: <alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca>
> Sent: Monday, February 24, 2003 10:19 AM
> Subject: Re: gum printing
>
>
> > Heidi
> >
> > Can you give us more information on how you size using starch? What do
> > you use as a starch? Does it need hardening? If so what do you harden
> > with?
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> > Gord
> >
> >
> > On Sun, 23 Feb 2003, Heidi Weller wrote:
> >
> > > Hi Chris
> > > I consider myself a gummist as well - that is the process I have used
> almost
> > > exclusively for about 15 years now. I can't say that I have ever had
> > > problems with particular colors, but I do stay with certain hues because
> > > they are a part of the palette I like. I use am. di. too, and a starch
> > > size, and bisulfite for clearing. I usually print 16 x 20 or 20 x 24
> sizes.
> > > Good luck with your alt course!
> > > Heidi Weller
> > > Ashland, OH
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: Christina Z. Anderson <zphoto@montana.net>
> > > To: Alt Photo List <alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca>
> > > Sent: Sunday, February 23, 2003 5:17 PM
> > > Subject: gum printing
> > >
> > >
> > > > Hi List,
> > > > My usual barrage of questions for the week--but hey, at least I
> post
> > > my
> > > > test results, too, huh?
> > > >
> > > > Gum questions:
> > > > 1. Which colors absolutely do not work? I have these notes:
> hooker's
> > > > green (washes out), emerald green, and any chromium based colors. I've
> > > loved
> > > > the quinacridones in the past...moonglow by D Smith seemed to wash out
> > > quite
> > > > a bit but could've mixed it up wrong. Do all whites work OK and has
> anyone
> > > > tried a white on a dark paper?
> > > > 2. Do you use am di or pot di? I learned on am di and am wondering
> if it
> > > > is worth it to buy some pot di. Webb/Reed say only use am di if you
> can't
> > > > get pot di. Hirsch says use am di. Go figure. I just want to know
> what
> > > > you guys use, and I do have the notes from the past about am di being
> > > lower
> > > > contrast/muddier but then those saying that isn't the case. Does it
> boil
> > > > down to what you are used to?
> > > > 2a. If you diluted am di to the same percent as pot di would it be
> > > > equivalent in speed?
> > > > 3. What clearing agent do you use? I have come across sodium
> sulfite,
> > > > sodium bisulfite/metabisulfite, potassium bisulfite, and sulfuric acid
> 1%
> > > > solution. Does sodium sulfite truly do the trick so I don't have to
> > > choke?
> > > > the metabi literally gives me instant asthma.
> > > > 4. Has anyone used lemon juice in the sensitizer to insolubilize it,
> > > > decreasing exposure and giving better midtones? (Demachy,
> Photo-Aquatint,
> > > > p. 39).
> > > > 5. Dare I ask this, has Demachy's stain test been hashed out on this
> list
> > > > already or is it worth mentioning? His book is from 1898, before Paul
> > > > Anderson's 1911. Is it possible to talk this out civilly? If he has
> not
> > > > been discussed, I can sum up his test and post it. Considering I've
> only
> > > > been on the list 3 yr or so, you all could have been around this block
> > > > before.
> > > > 6. How many gummists are there? I know Judy, Dave, Katherine, Joe,
> but
> > > who
> > > > else isn't speaking up? Even part-timers?
> > > > BTW, why I keep asking questions is I am in the starts of
> developing
> > > a
> > > > "user friendly" alt course as to how I would teach it if given the
> chance.
> > > > I did it with experimental. Now I want to with alt. I've figured out
> I
> > > > would "hook" the students first by doing easy enlarged negs (paper,
> > > > imagesetter, ink jet), start them out with instant gratification
> cyanos,
> > > > argyros, (then vdb, kalli, salt) to really get them hooked, then get
> into
> > > > easy one coat gum with spray starch or acrylic sizing, then teach such
> > > > things as better enlarged negs, better sizing, etc. afterward, before
> > > > progressing into the more expensive platinum/palladium/zia. The
> biggest
> > > > whines I hear is "it's so time consuming, I can't stand gelatin
> dripping
> > > all
> > > > over, I don't have any good large negs, etc." Kinda like the view
> > > > camera--forget the zone stuff in the beginning, get them out there
> fooling
> > > > around with the camera til they get seduced by the large neg and
> camera
> > > > movements, and then go thru the complex stuff. They have to know
> "what's
> > > in
> > > > it for them" first. My philosophy for the day (of course, 10
> processes in
> > > > one semester is probably total overload).
> > > > Chris
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> > ---------------------------------------------------------
> > Gordon J. Holtslander Dept. of Biology
> > holtsg@duke.usask.ca 112 Science Place
> > http://duke.usask.ca/~holtsg University of Saskatchewan
> > Tel (306) 966-4433 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
> > Fax (306) 966-4461 Canada S7N 5E2
> > ---------------------------------------------------------
> >
> >
>
>
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