Re: PT/PD and humidity redux

In the olden days, when we could get Palladio pre-coated paper, I would routinely rehumidify right before printing and thereby get extended range. Jim

PS: Mark: I have printed your message for my wife, unexpurgated. I think she will understand.
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Ender100@aol.com
  To: alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca
  Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2004 12:17 AM
  Subject: PT/PD and humidity redux

  I had an interesting experience the other night—but I won't go into that.

  However, earlier that same day, I was printing PT/PD using the Na2 method/chart that Dick Arentz has on his website. Using Palladium and his Love Potion #5, Cranes Platinotype, pre-humidifying the paper as I usually do, coating in 60% humidity with my trusty magic brush, air drying the coated paper for about 20 minutes, then exposing on the Nuarc for the standard printing time for that contrast mix, and wearing my lucky shorts with a panorama of Moonlight Over Hernandez printed on them (I think I got them at the MOPA gift shop)—I got the density range on the Stouffer step tablet as predicted for this contrast mix.

  I did a second printing to verify something and for the hell of it, after the coated paper had dried for 20 minutes, I gave it another shot of humidity for 2 minutes just before printing. The results were surprising to me. The tonal range stretched an additional log .35, or over a full stop on the same Stouffer step tablet. The DMax remained the same—about 1.33 and I was still getting true paper white with no fog.

  Has anyone else had this experience? Did you smoke a cigarette afterwards?

  Mark Nelson

  PS: I have this cool futuristic stop watch I time everything with—I keep it hanging from a loop around my neck for easy access. The other day I had to mail something at the post office and I forgot to take it off. When I got to the desk, the postal clerk looked at me and then the stop watch and asked "are you timing us?" hehehehe

  PPS: Is it "step tablet" or "steptablet". Or "step wedge"? I know what a "Step Wedgie" is.... but then we're back to talking about my lucky Ansel Shorts again.
Received on Tue Mar 2 05:59:12 2004