Re: How to super harden papers? Off list

I should probably describe the situation. I am
developing carbon images on fixed out
photographic papers as a way of enhancing the
relief effect. Some papers are much better than
others at showing the relief effect, in
particular matte surface papers.

However, I recently was given a very large amount
of Polymax double weight fiber paper in F surface
and I would like to use this paper for my work.
Unfortunately, with this paper the carbon images
appears to sink into the emulsion and the
dimensional effect is much less pronounced than
with the matte surface papers that I have been
using. What I would like to do is harden the
gelatin surface of the paper so that the carbon
image will stay more on the surface.

Having no glut on hand I tried hardening in a 10%
solution of glyoxal and compared results with the
unhardened paper. There was not a lot of change,
if any, in the look between the hardened and
unhardened paper.

So, my questions now are these. Is there any
possibility that the hardening process will
continue with time? And, is there any reason to
believe that other hardeners, say glut, formalin
or chrome alum would be more effective than
glyoxal?

Sandy

>--- Sandy King <sanking@clemson.edu>
>ÅF
>> I am fixing out some photographic papers for use as
>> carbon final
>> supports but after fixing and drying the gelatin
>> surface is a little
>> soft for my specific application, even with the
>> addition of a small
>> bottle of the potassium alum hardener that comes
>> with Kodak Rapid-Fix.
>
>Hey Sandy.
>
>Regular alum is good for raising the mp of the gelatin,
>but chrome alum will actually make it insoluble. It needs
>a few days, say a week to become fully hardened, compared
>to several weeks for Formaldehyde. Ryuji's girlfriend
>"Glut" should be ok too I guess, but I don't see the need
>for it.
>
>There are much faster hardeners than glutaraldehyde, btw,
>something ryuji never mentions....
>
>I have data on chrome and regular alum hardening if
>neccessary, but your problem may not be hardening...
>gelatin naturally has a water soluble component present in
>the gel state, it may age and or may have been in contact
>with something that causes it to soften, melt what have
>you.
>
>Who knows.
>
>Anyway good luck... I would be interested in hearing what
>you finally do that works for you.
>
>Ray
>
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Received on Thu Mar 24 10:07:56 2005