Re: 1st & 2nd Cyanotype

> Yes, this is a digital neg, but it was actually made using Dan's template.
> I have started to read PDN, but I don't have a scanner or densitometer
> yet,
> so I haven't been giving it as much attention as I want to. I feel like
> there are a million things to know. I'm not complaining.

I use the PDN system having been taught this in Chris Anderson's class.
It is amazing. I tried Dan's system before and had a lot of trial and
error before I got anythign halfway decent which was nothing close to my
first attempts with PDN. The beuty of PDN is the process of tailoring
your negative to the idiosyncrosies of the paper/chem
combination/environment you are using. As long as you use the same
working process and same mixtures of these things in theory the PDN system
will balence all these things out and give you a beutiful print. So, if
your paper/chem/humidity combination prints really flat, PDN would adjust
for this to give you a beutiful print. To me, it seems the natual way of
doing the negs as I don't have to worry about as many variables and my
process is standardized all the way through and the results speak for
themself. (Thanks Chris for teaching me and Mark for thinking up this
great invention, and I must note I'm a complete amature at all this....).

I've never needed a densitometer when working with PDN...

> Until you asked whether these papers were cold or hot pressed I hadn't
> bothered to read what those terms meant. I couldn't say whether these are
> cold/hot. Compared to normal writing paper, it is quite textured - so
> possibly they are cold pressed. I didn't notice if any fibres were
> lifting
> off during clearing, I'll watch for it next time. I've got some Arches
> Platine, but I'm saving it until I feel like I know what I'm doing.

I never noticed the fibers lifting off either, but they did somehow. Cold
is rough while hot is smooth. It sounds to me like cold pressed which
could account for your spots. Platine is a perfect paper and is what I
use. Please note that your negs will print completely differently when
you start to use Platine. You might adjust your curve (in photoshop for
contrast) to get a perfect print on your mystery papers then switch to
Platine and have to start all over. Again, PDN solves this with it's
negative calibration process..

> Could you tell me how you are using the washing soda? What brand of soda
> is
> this? (I've never used it for anything). How is it mixed? I assume you
> bathe the print in it? How long?

I mix some washing soda into some water. I don't remember the brand.
Maybe Chris Anderson can chime in on this. I put some but not too much
into water. maybe a teaspoon per liter. The stronger you mix the faster
it'll bleach. I usually will bleach a bunch of prints at once and use one
I don't like as the test to see what my strengh is, then add more water or
soda.

When bleaching it goes pretty fast so I will hold both ends of the print
and dip it into the bath then pull it out so i've got some of the solution
"cradled" on the print then i move my hands up and down to roll it over
the whole thing.. it sounds complicated I know and it takes a little
practice but this is the method which gives me the most control. You
could just leave it in the bath but I found I would forget or miss the
pull time, etc and my way is more fun cause i'm doing something instead of
just watching. When the print is bleached enough wash it.

I also tone my prints with anything rumored to tone. I'm pretty fond of
chamomile tea. After toning a print is a lot harder to bleach but it is
possible if you make your bleach solution super strong and leave it in for
a while. It gives a nice image.

This image was originally very very overexposed (I forgot about it in the
uv box) then bleached then toned with black tea if I remember correctly.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/homemade_spaceship/116944848/

This image was intentionally overexposed then toned with chamomile tea
which gives a much more greenish/bluish tone

http://www.flickr.com/photos/homemade_spaceship/116945041/

I wish I had more examples but i'm pretty lazy about getting anything
scanned and up on the web.

Hope this helps.
K.
Received on 07/21/06-02:24:27 PM Z