Re: My first VanDykes & questions

From: Loris Medici ^lt;lorism@tnn.net>
Date: 11/12/03-12:26:53 PM Z
Message-id: <01L2XZYSNF1I96ZX8U@sask.usask.ca>

Don,

> > 3) The contrast of the emulsion and dMax is very low. Again, Is that
> > normal?

> I always double coat. If you are getting low contrast with a contrasty neg. then the sensitiser is probably to blame.
> You don't mention which paper you are using and how you are processing the paper. Have you printed a step tablet to
> determine the contrast range of the paper/sensitiser? You may wish to mix a new batch of sensitiser to compare your
> current results. That's possibly easier and cheaper than wasting your time and wasting paper.
> You should be getting very good results following Wynn White's VDB workflow.

In my case, double coating makes difference but not much (not like the huge difference it makes in Cyanotype for instance). Let's say a difference about 1 stop (don't have a densitometer so I can be more specific).

I'm using Clairefontaine - Etival 300gsm watercolor paper. It's the best paper I can find for Cyanotypes, it c! lears very quicly, it doesn't stain and I like the tone it produces. It is a cold press / NOT paper. Couldn't find a smoother paper, we don't have much paper choices here in Turkey - I mean if you want CP/NOT or smooth, there are very nice papers it you like rough/canvas like surface: Hahnemuehle, Fabriano...

I don't have a step wedge (yes, I should definitely get one - was it Stouffer? I should look if they stok this item here). I just started doing alt. processes and my workflow is to print an inkjet step wedge, expose a then making a curve according to the result I get.

I prepare 2lt of tap water with a teaspoon of citric acid in it (a very small spoon). I use this 2lt water for the first 3 washes (3 minutes each, continous agitation) then I do 2 more washes in normal tap water (water is cold: around 16C - 60F) this makes a total 15 minutes for clearing. Then I fix the print in a 3% sodium thiosulfate solution for 1 minute (according the Christopher James),! after fixing I agitate the print in a 1% solution of sodium sulfite f or 3 minutes and then wash it in running water for 15 minutes.

I'm going to try a very high contrast lith negative (developed to be continuous tone using Lawless' method) - if I still have problems will mix a new batch, if not I will fiddle with negative contrast and try to calibrate.

Thanks,
Loris. Received on Wed Nov 12 16:25:09 2003