RE: cyanotype help needed

Loris,

In my experience the alkali solution and wash bleaches the image beyond
that which the acid will recover. This varies between images/papers but
I've always been able to lighten the image doing this, sometimes too
much.

joe

>>> loris_medici@mynet.com 03/24/05 8:47 AM >>>
Joe, doesn't it gain its old density (or very close to it)? When you
acidify I mean?

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Joe Smigiel [mailto:jsmigiel@kvcc.edu]
> Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2005 3:44 PM
> To: alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca
> Subject: Re: cyanotype help needed
>
> Jan,
>
> Any alkaline solution would probably reduce the density of
> the cyanotype and also lower the contrast. I've used weak
> ammonia solutions, borax, and even dilute film and paper
> developers to bleach back cyanotypes.
> They will turn a lovely lavender color as they bleach. Go
> slow using weak solutions in order to gauge the bleaching
> effect with some precision. I would try a test on a similar
> piece of printed paper in order to determine the proper
> strength solution to use. After rewashing the print I always
> acidify it again using weak acetic or citric acid and this
> returns it to a blue color.
Received on Thu Mar 24 10:56:52 2005