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

Jeffrey, The sizing? Interesting. I have not had access to or need to, heat
just sizing other than the "magic" deionized ossnien (sp?) that B&S sold a
few years back ( may still sell, I don't know) to be used with platinum
prints. The smell was unchanged from paper to paper, even those with
different types of sizing. That is why I supposed it to be the solution.
That and once I tried warming the solution in a micro wave with photoflo
added to it, way back in the early 80 to try and coat a 24x30 piece of
paper. The smell was identical to that coming off the print when using a
hair dryer to begin the drying process on the large sheets. It was shortly
after I tried coating these large sheets with hair driers that I began to
wear a full face mask with respirators when working with the
platinum/palladium coating process.

Eric Neilsen Photography
4101 Commerce Street
Suite 9
Dallas, TX 75226
http://e.neilsen.home.att.net
http://ericneilsenphotography.com
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jeffrey D. Mathias [mailto:jeffrey.d.mathias@att.net]
> Sent: Monday, July 05, 2004 12:14 PM
> To: alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca
> Subject: 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/
Received on Mon Jul 5 16:54:04 2004