On Thu, 13 Jul 2006, Ender100@aol.com wrote:
>
> A. Yes, Gum is flexible and chewable.
Reading this long thread I find it not long enough -- that is, what is to
me anyway essential in gum printing, in fact I'd be lost without it,
hasn't been mentioned -- the EXTREME flexibility in development. In my
opinon, though I realize some folks might accuse me of "platinum bashing",
be my guest -- there's an infection, a bleeding if you will, of the
mindset.
In the iron processes a given set of variables probably do have only one
optimum "development for dmax." But in gum there are infinite modifiers --
not just length of development, and temperature of the water, but
additives (eg ammonia) to the water, and of course agitation. I don't
mean spray or rubbing which do after all modify the image (whether for
better or for worse is TBD [to be determined], which is to say, moot) but
in gentle agitation -- one of my favorites, incidentally, being from
Demachy, who would take a sponge and VERY gently squeeze so a few drops of
water at a time land on an area to be "opened up."
When doing that (and I've found an eye dropper actually more manageable),
the DISTANCE the water drops is another very effective control -- from
higher it works harder (but harder to aim precisely), from closer, more
delicately. And, of course keeping the paper very slightly submerged in
the bath during this operation also mildifies the effect.
In fact that's one of the appeals of gum printing (an added benefit,
hardly its main appeal) -- you don't have to be control freak, but can go,
as it were, with the flow. Or LOOK at what's happening, and decide, yes,
like painting. Another thing I've probably said before, sometimes what you
GET is better than what you "wanted"... (Unless you're a perfect person,
which some are, some aren't.)
best,
Judy
Received on 07/16/06-03:00:55 PM Z
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