RE: cyanotype soln. gone bad

Did you add Ammonium Dichromate when mixing the solution? AFAIK,
Ammonium Dichromate (besides increasing contrast, also) extends the
shelf life of the solution. I have a 18 months old solution that still
works well (AD was added when mixing).

Regards,
Loris.

-----Original Message-----
From: jude.taylor@comcast.net [mailto:jude.taylor@comcast.net]
Sent: 05 Eylül 2005 Pazartesi 07:57
To: alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca
Subject: Re: cyanotype soln. gone bad

Thanks, but this is the new cyanotype, which I though was suppose to
have a longer shelf life. JT

--
Judy Rowe Taylor
Mukilteo, WA
Art is a voice of the heart, a song of the soul. www.enduringibis.com
jude.taylor@comcast.net or judyrowetaylor@enduringibis.com
> Cyanotype solutions do not keep well.  I mix fresh for every printing 
> session.
> 
> Dave in Wyoming
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <jude.taylor@comcast.net>
> To: <alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca>
> Sent: Sunday, September 04, 2005 8:10 PM
> Subject: cyanotype soln. gone bad
> 
> 
> > Greetings,
> >
> > This evening I got out my bottle of cyanotype (Ware's new cyano) 
> > solution
> to coat and test some different papers.  Much to my surprise my 
> solution was deep green.  I filtered it again and found there was also
> some dark blue sludge in the bottle.
> >
> > The solution is only 2-3 months old, has been in a brown bottle with
> > black
> lid tightly screwed on and kept inside a dark drawer that is only 
> opened when I get out the bottle for a printing session.  It was O.K. 
> a few weeks ago (pale yellowish gree), so I am wondering if the higher
> humidity around here has adversely affected the solution over time - 
> when it has been opened to take out a few mls of the stock for use.  I
> use a dedicated syringe (which I wash and dry after each use) to draw 
> from the stock bottle.  After removing what I need for a session I do
put the stock bottle back in the
> dark drawer.    Is it restorable or must I just start "from scratch"
again?
> Any clues as to what I might do to prevent this happening again; if it
> is the humidity I do have "dehumidifier" on my list of items to 
> purchase, though I wouldn't want to run it all the time!  Maybe some 
> of the "crystal stuff" in the drawer?