Re: Platinum Particles (RE: Drying Pt/Pd. prints)

My experience corroborates everything Eric has mentioned.
Although the smell from the paper is likely the sizing.
When the coating soaks too deep or through the paper it usually results
in a blotchy spot. Although with fabric, it should be completely soaked
through.

Eric Neilsen wrote:
> I have never tested the air with anything other than my nose, but I can tell
> that the smell coming off a print is real. If you use platinum in your
> sensitizer, even at low heat, you should be protecting yourself from
> platinum particles. There are risks of a platinum related health problem
> from breathing it. There does not seem to be the same risk with palladium.
> Where on high or low, the particles are still going to leave the paper.
>
> As for the soak in and it's relative effect... It has been my experience
> that the sensitizer should get into the top of the paper but not much lower.
> As the sensitizer penetrates the fibers, more and more of them will become
> apparent. SO I strive to get the coating to soak in enough not to wash off,
> give good dmax, and not allow me to see into the paper fibers. Each paper
> requires testing and evaluation for soak in time, drying time - with or
> without hair drying, and gentle dry time of hanging around (I do mine in a
> drying box). Heat fog is also something to be avoided; this will lower dmax
> and contrast. The amount of sensitizer per square inch is also very
> important to the drying of paper and IMHO, is an integral part of the
> coating and drying process. You can have the right amount of solution and
> dry it incorrectly or with the wrong soak in time and get crappy looking
> prints. Or great drying techniques with to much or too little coating
> solution and never make a good print either.

-- 
Jeffrey D. Mathias
http://home.att.net/~jeffrey.d.mathias/