From: Nigel Miller (nm1@bolton.ac.uk)
Date: 07/22/03-09:30:35 AM Z
Hi
I have generally used a salted water bath (tablespoon ish per litre) as the
first wash for cyanotypes. I can't remember who told me to do this but it
does seem to give very clean highlights and, perhaps, a more vibrant blue
hue.
I use several baths until the water stops staining.
Does anybody else do this? I'm not that technical as far as the chemistry
goes so if anyone has a view on whether the salted water wash is a good idea
or not I would appreciated it but..... It does seem to work.
Thanks
Nigel Miller
On 22/7/03 3:08 am, "kateb@paradise.net.nz" <kateb@paradise.net.nz> wrote:
> Hi Loris,
> re coating cyanotypes - I always use two very sparing coats applied with a
> hake
> brush. this seems to give a good depth of colour without pooling, which causes
> underexposed spots in the final print.
>
> Canson paper is very textured, isn't it? I use Saunders Waterford watercolour
> paper, it seems pretty good. I think that's an English paper.
>
> Exposure is always difficult to gauge correctly, you just have to get a feel
> for it.
>
> Washing: I use filtered tap water, but I always wash in warm water for the
> first wash (until the water is clear) and then I soak the paper in at least
> two
> cool baths of tapwater (10-15 mins). I have read that cold running tapwater
> can
> bleach cyanotype. I once left a print in the wash overnight and when I came in
> next day it was yellow - no blue at all! The warm water wash seems to reduce
> the risk of staining, which is a problem with some papers with cyanotype.
>
> I'm looking forward to trying some of the toning ideas I've read here
>
> Cheers
> Kate Mahoney
>
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