Re: palladium drydown and developer

Well Clay,

This is worth far more than 2 cents to me! This is exactly the information I
am looking for, and thank you for sharing so freely.

This week I have completed printing 30 large pds--didn't think I could do
it, but I did and I realized two things: how greatly I respect you
inveterate pd printers and how much you learn by doing something over and
over and over. I realize how addictive pt/pd is, especially because results
come in one printing unlike gum, but I also realize that my first love and
expertise is and will be certainly gum! If things don't come out right the
first time, there's always another layer....

BTW, speaking of pd over albumen or some other glossy surface, I made a pd
print yesterday on top of a gelatin sized paper (I ran out of Platine :().
At an exposure time of 8.5 minutes UVBL it was barely there and I noticed in
the developer that it mostly swooshed off. So I printed the image in gum,
and then returned to printing a layer of pd on top of the gum (I know that
doesn't make a bit of sense since the surface is now even more glossy, but I
wanted to experiment with the King process outlined in View Camera mag), and
I printed it at 17 minutes. It worked but has a tendency in the developer
even at that gross exposure to wash off the gum layer. That makes logical
sense, I guess, but for some reason I was thinking it'd behave like gum and
be more tenacious with further exposure.

Interestingly, cyanotype on top of gum has much more tenacity, as I have
done lots of those. I have no idea why this should be different with pd.
The reason I brought this up is my experience is similar to yours, below,
that it sure makes more sense to let the pd sink into the paper and do the
layers of other stuff on top. But I have to say I do like the print!
Chris

----- Original Message -----
From: "Clay" <wcharmon@wt.net>
To: <alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca>
Sent: Friday, July 21, 2006 4:50 AM
Subject: Re: palladium drydown and developer

> There was a minor amount of sub-rosa discussion bandied about among some
> of the attendees of the last APIS about this issue. It was stated at the
> conference by Mr King that these mysterious methods for eliminating
> platinum drydown are two-fold: one method involves using albumen as a
> sizing agent prior to coating, the other a similar approach using
> collodion.
>
> You may reasonably ask how these work. Well, I tried them. As you can
> well imagine, the albumen provides a wonderfully smooth surface on the
> paper for the sensitizer to slop around upon. When I tried this at home
> using various dilutions of albumen 'subbing' on paper, I found it messy
> and not all that effective. I also have questions about the propensity
> for yellowing that albumen exhibits in every true albumen print I have
> ever seen that has any years on it.
>
> The collodion method proved very frustrating. The stuff is loaded with
> ether and alcohol and went right through several of the papers I was
> using, leaving me with more of a grease-o-type than a platinum print.
>
> Easy, simple, effective? Not in my experience. Admittedly, I did not do
> an exhaustive test on every possible paper, but I did try the papers I
> commonly use: Fabriano EW, Rives BFK, COT320 and Whatman's. My
> assessment? Not worth the hassle.
>
> I think the reputation for drydown in platinum comes from the tonal scale
> being 'squeezed' from both ends. As others have pointed out, the
> shrinkage of the paper as it dries brings image forming particles closer
> together in the highlight areas, causing them to visually darken
> slightly. The way to avoid this, again, as others have pointed out, is to
> use papers that exhibit a lower degree of dimensional change as they
> dry.
>
> The other phenomenon that has not been mentioned is the microscopic
> 'fuzzing' of the paper surface that occurs as paper dries. This seems to
> affect the dark shadow areas much more. It is really more accurately
> called 'dry-up'. If you slap a wet pt/pd print on a reflection
> densitometer, you will get a much higher reading (in the 1.8 range) than
> you will a few hours later after it has dried. The tiny fibers of the
> paper then stand proud and cause a loss of reflection density that in the
> best of cases will give you reflection densities in the neighborhood of
> 1.4-1.5. This is almost a full stop of reflection density loss.
>
> As to what can be done to mitigate this effect, I have found that very
> light gelatin sizing (in the 1% range) can help to a degree. Another
> approach is to deal with this after the print is dry and apply either wax
> or subsequent gum coats. I have a waxed vellum print that has measured
> Dmax of 1.9 using several layers of Gamblin cold wax medium.
>
> My personal preference is for additional layers of expose gum, since it
> offers so many options for color manipulation of the image. Finally, a
> coat of Liquitex Gloss medium diluted 1:8 will also have the effect of
> causing a measurable (though relatively minor half stop) increase in
> Dmax. Again, I think this is because it causes the microscopic fibers to
> lay down and behave.
>
> One final method that I have heard mentioned but have not tried is to run
> the finished print through an etching press and 'calendar' the paper.
>
> My two cents and experience with the issue,..
>
> Clay
>
>
> On Jul 21, 2006, at 12:59 AM, davidhatton@totalise.co.uk wrote:
>
>> Dear Mr. King,
>>
>> I'm sorry but I must ask you. Why do you keep doing this? You drop into
>> a thread
>> hinting that you have some knowledge of the subject and then, when you
>> are asked
>> to substantiate your ideas, you start an argument. You also use every
>> opportunity
>> to sell some aspect of your business. You then have the audacity to tell
>> people
>> that they lay out data unfairly. Most people on this list help people
>> freely. Why
>> can't you? You agreed to post a single coat gum on your website which
>> you have
>> also failed to do. I personally, have come to the conclusion that you
>> are all
>> smoke and mirrors and that you bring nothing but strife and contention
>> to this list.
>>
>> It's about time you stopped Mr. King. I don't have time for you. And do
>> you know
>> the worst thing? I feel betrayed by you.
>>
>> David Hatton
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ---- - Madasafish - Voted Best Heavy Consumer Broadband Provider in the
>> 2006 Internet Industry Awards http://www.madasafish.com/
>
>
Received on 07/21/06-09:37:48 AM Z