From: Devra Goldberg (smspoll@yahoo.com)
Date: 07/02/03-09:19:12 AM Z
dear loris,
i think cyanotypes are a great start! they're
relatively easy to make and they are so beautiful. i
still feel a little rush when i have a fresh cyanotype
to play with.
please let us know how your toning comes out. i,
also, have christopher james' book (i love it) and i'm
considering doing some toning in the next few weeks.
foam brushes are wooden handles with bits of foam on
the end of them. you can use these, although they
tend to soak up a bit of the chemical, i've found them
to do it less than the hake brush (although the hake
brushes leave lovely brush strokes and coats more
evenly). i've also used standard household painting
brushes that i got at the art supply store really
cheap and had, again, lovely brush marks, so i'd
recommend one of these options over the foam brush
since the brush mark is, for me at least, a hallmark
of the cyanotype process.
as for paper, i also go with the "feel test"--if it
feels good to me, i use it! i've started avoiding
completely smooth papers (i.e. strathmore drawing),
though, as the end result looks a bit flat.
good luck,
devra
--- Loris Medici <lorism@tnn.net> wrote:
> I'm about to start making cyanotypes (waiting the
> hinged back contact
> printing frame on its way to me) and AFAIK, I'm the
> first one trying
> this in my area (Istanbul, Turkey).
>
> I will use negatives from my 4x5" pinhole camera
> (film: HP5+) and also
> plan to enlarge 35mm and 6x6 negatives (mostly HP5+
> and FP4+) on lith
> film using the procedure described at the following
> documents:
> *
>
http://216.195.4.24/alternativephotography/articles/art001.html
> * http://rmp.opusis.com/documents/reversal4.pdf
> Is there anybody who put this method in practice
> successfully? To what
> should a newcomer pay attention in order to get
> ideal enlarged negatives
> for the cyanotype process? Can you please pass your
> experiences on this
> issue?
>
> What kinds of paper should I use? In a shop near my
> house, I found a
> 190gsm acid free, optical brightener free rag
> watercolor paper (made in
> Canada - don't remember the name/brand & mill) with
> a fairly smooth
> surface. Is 190gsm enough for making cyanotypes?
> (please note that I
> also plan to tone some of my cyanotypes).
>
> What tools other than hake brushes and glass rods
> can be used to apply
> the coating to the paper? (I don't know what a "foam
> brush" is - are
> watercolor/oil brushes OK?)
>
> Finally, what is your general suggestions and
> warnings to a newcomer? I
> will be grateful to every bit of information you
> provide.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Loris Medici.
>
> P.S. I have "The Book of Alternative Photographic
> Processes"
> by Christopher James and "Coming into Focus: A
> Step-by-Step Guide to
> Alternative Photographic Printing Processes" by John
> Barnier (as the
> Editor)
>
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