Re: bromoil, anyone?

Christina, I have 31 messages I have save over the years - they're in a
folder called Bromoil, of all things........

Let me know,

Nick

----- Original Message -----
From: "Christina Z. Anderson" <zphoto@bellsouth.net>
To: "Alt list" <alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca>
Sent: Saturday, November 13, 2004 5:50 AM
Subject: bromoil, anyone?

> Good morning all,
> I know this is hard to believe I can think about something other than
> gum, but this week I got the hairbrained idea to use bromoil as my
technical
> research project for a printmaking class. I was inspired to do so after
> seeing Tom Micklin's prints in the traveling portfolio (so Tom, please
chime
> in here). The hairbrained part was deciding to produce an edition of 10
> different prints for the critique.
>
> Let me say that I have read about bromoil extensively, researching it
> and condensing a workflow for my Experimental Workbook, in which is my
> "quickie" bromoil method. I tested it way back when, but no students ever
> chose to do bromoil, and I was not a printmaker at the time which I now
am.
> Thus I am a bromoil neophyte.
>
> I mixed my own bromoil solution and it worked great. This is good.
>
> First mistake: I knew that Ilford papers are resistant to bleaching,
> but did not know if this resistance would entail a longer bleach etch time
> in the bromoil solution. Silly me--just because it resists bleaching does
> NOT mean it resists etching. I bleach etched for 16 minutes, and all of
> those prints (11x14's,) delaminated. It was like bromoiling on top of a
> mordancage. I was NOT happy. I should have known this because Ilford is a
> WONDERFUL paper for mordancage--it veils very quickly.
>
> I then reprinted all, using these papers: Ilford MGIV matte, Ilford
> MGIV warmtone pearl, Forte Polywarmtone RC, Bergger VCCB. I found out
some
> stuff in my mistakes. For one, Forte RC was by far the best! I am
> surprised. It is glossy, too. Next was the Ilford MGIV matte.
>
> Question: what are your fave papers, you bromoilists? Not the
special
> bromoil papers, but regular ones. Do you use glossy or matte?
>
> Two, since I ruined the first batch of prints and had to redo the
whole
> process with a time limit facing me, I found that an 8 minute etch was
> plenty sufficient, and that I could go right from the etch bath to inking
up
> with no problem. Thus it wasn't really necessary to dry mount press the
> prints in between the bleach/etch bath and printing up as it is said (to
> make them ink up better).
>
> Question: is there a cheapy brush source anyone can recommend? And
> brush catalog number? I used rollers for this process. On Forte RC with
> rollers you can essentially get back your print to looking just like a
> photograph, which...what's the point...so I wanted to try a brush for my
> next go around. The local drugstore did not even know what a man's
shaving
> brush is.
>
> One more question: do you bromoilists print one stop darker and
duller
> as a general rule, or something other? Oh, and how long do you think a
> print takes to dry? I was thinking of pressing it between baking
parchment
> paper in the drymount press, to prevent ink from getting on things.
>
> I guess what I am interested in, really, is any bromoil dialogue...so
> tawlk amungst yurselfs...your workflow, your mistakes, anything!
> Chris
>
>
>
Received on Sat Nov 13 08:08:27 2004