RE: My first VanDykes & questions

Hi Don, Judy, Richard and Sandy...

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sandy King [mailto:sanking@clemson.edu]
> Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2003 5:48 AM
> To: alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca
> Subject: Re: My first VanDykes & questions
>
>
> Richard Urmonas,
>
> >
> >I think you may have a problem. VDB does need a more contrasty
> >negative than cyanotype, but it is not particularly high. I think I
> >could print a VDB negative on silver gelatine grade 0, but have not
> >tried. Dmax should be good with a single
> >coat.
>
> Richard,
>
> You must have something very unusual in your VDB mix. I have mixed
> the stuff with many different batches of chemistry from several
> sources and it has always given me a paper that needs a very high
> contrast negative, upwards of log 1.9. There is absolutely no way I
> would be able to print a negative with VDB that prints well on a
> silver paper. At least not if the goal was to print both ends of the
> scale.
>
> Sandy King

I used very contrasty negatives (on lith film) which I produced using
Lawless' method and the results improved incredibly. The main problem
was the contrast of the negatives I understand - but I'm still not much
impressed with dMax (when I scan in a calibrated scanner, the leftmost
part of the histogram starts from around 18 - 24 on a 0 - 255 scale).

So, I decided to:

a) Try different papers (all smooth papers I can find - does acrylic
and/or pastel paper work for alt process prints?) as you suggest.

b) Mix a new batch of sensitizer (I don't think this will change
anything but I will do it anyway; just to be at ease).

c) Use continuous tone lith negatives from now on - the quality
difference popped my eyes! I must improve my technique (I've made just a
couple of enlarged negatives on lith - just to see it if it works, if I
can do it...)

Below you may find links to the prints I've made using lith negatives.
The negatives are far from being perfect, just test negatives as I
stated above... the most contrasty one - the one with the children - was
accidentally exposed by the back!!! that's why there's considerable lack
of detail in highlights; a total rookie mistake. Anyway, even using
faulty negatives quality improved considerably - I'm a lith negative man
from now on!

http://abone.tnn.net/lorism/vandyke-lithneg-01.jpg
http://abone.tnn.net/lorism/vandyke-lithneg-02.jpg

Regards,
Loris.
Received on Thu Nov 13 01:02:48 2003