RE: humidity in your darkroom........

Just an FYI on the heavier Cranes, at least the 110 lb version
delaminated and bubbled really badly with me, I didn't see this with the
90 lb Cranes Cover, this was with the Natural White. The bright white 90
seemed to be a good cyanotype paper but with VDB and ziatype my DMAX
seemed to suffer. As they say, YMMV. The cost of the parent sized sheets
is very attractive though but I still prefer the Arches Platine and
Bergger Cot for a number of processes for final or portfolio prints.

I've also found the 90 lb Cranes has poor wet strength for handling when
you get in to the 16x20 size sheets. I've ripped many corners from
lifting while the paper is wet with these larger sheets.

Good luck,

Don Bryant

-----Original Message-----
From: Baird, Darryl [mailto:dbaird@umflint.edu]
Sent: Sunday, January 11, 2004 11:35 AM
To: alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca
Subject: RE: humidity in your darkroom........

Great news, yes. I also wanted t make you aware (if you weren't already)
that Crane makes the 90 lb (and heavier) cover in large sheets - up to
20X26. The price is right at $30 for 20 sheets for the 23X29 size.... or
an 11.5 X 14.5 sheet for less than .50 (with shipping).

Aren't deadlines great for motivating us to get work done?

Darryl

-----Original Message-----
From: christine shepherd [mailto:acolyta@napc.com]
Sent: Sun 1/11/2004 11:26 AM
To: alt photo gurus
Subject: humidity in your darkroom........
 
is really important.

I know most of you see this as a conspicuous variable, but for some
reason, I had not given it much thought until Mark Nelson stressed its
import. So I went to the local smoke shop to purchase a hygrometer for
$7.99, the kind that goes in your humidor if you like cigars, and
discovered to my dismay that the humidity of my darkromm (aka my
bathroom) was a dismal 14%. No wonder my nose hurts. So I got a
cheapie humidifier and ran it for an hour before I coated - getting the
humidity up to at least 40%. I also used Mark's suggestion of passing
the paper over the humidifier immediately before coating. You will not
believe the difference in my prints. Rich, rich, smooth, dark blacks,
even on unsized Crane's. And NO bronzing! None! My Arrggghhhyrotypes
have transformed into argyrotypes, and I think I can make this deadline
after all.

Of note, I compared several papers - unsized Crane's, sized Crane's.
Buxton, and Rives BFK. The unsized Crane's was surprisingly the best,
with the sized (by myself) being the worst. Buxton was second, and
Rives was third, not so great. The best print so far has been on the
unsized Crane's with and extra .5g Sulfamic Acid added to 50 ml of
Argyotype sensitizer.

It's funny it was such a simple thing. Kinda like when your car dies
and you bring it to the shop and ther like, um, you need a new switch
so your car knows it's in park, when you thought you needed a whole new
starter.

So Judy I think you were definitely on the mark when you were discussing

the bronzing your students were getting on the VDBs when they blow-dried

- I theorize iron-silver processes greatly dislike dry air.

Thanks everyone,
Christine
Received on Sun Jan 11 13:32:08 2004