Masa (was Papers for Argyrotype)

Loris, I haven't used it at these sizes. Only 4x5. That's finally about to change, because
've just gotten my UV box set up, AND a new printer. As soon as I get curves worked
out, I'll be joining into the lemming's Fashion, as someone recently nose-thumbed it, of
printing larger digital negatives. In terms of my experience with this smaller size of
Masa, though, I would agree with Sam about wet strength.

Incidentally, this paper was discussed here on this list in October of 2002. I think that
must be what led me to investigate it. Carl Weese made this remark about it: "I don't find
Masa difficult to handle wet, given care. I routinely make 12x20's on it, though at that
size I do process by pouring the successive chemicals in and out of a single tray with
the sheet of Masa 'trapped' to the bottom, rather than moving the sheet from tray to
tray."

When coating, just tape your sheets to a board using drafting tape. I was applying
argyrotype with a glass rod, a real PITA. I'm going to try Sam's suggestion, and see
what it does with cyanotype. I could swear I did try this a couple years ago, and that the
emulsion just floated off in the rinse. But maybe I'm misremembering.

Anyhow, I'll send you a couple jpg samples of argyrotypes I printed to this paper.

Mike

On 28 Mar 2006 at 18:36, Loris Medici wrote:

Date sent: Tue, 28 Mar 2006 18:36:02 +0300
From: Loris Medici <mail@loris.medici.name>
Subject: RE: Papers for Argyrotype
To: alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca
Send reply to: alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca

> Thanks Sam. I just ordered some (it's too cheap to refrain from
> ordering it). It looks like it has a cold gray color. I hope it's not
> as dark as shown in Dickblick's page. I plan to make prints sized
> around 9"x12" to 11"x14". Do you think I'll need to use a plexi (or
> such) support in trays?
>
> I guess this paper buckles / becomes wavy when coated; how do you
> manage to coat evenly such thin papers?
>
> Let me admit that I felt strange while ordering a sulphite pulp paper
> after all that stability discussion ;) It seems that I'm not so much
> obsessed with archivality... (I'm saying this thinking sulphite papers
> are not as archival as pure cotton fibre papers - but I can be
> completely wrong...)
>
> TIA,
> Loris.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sam Wang [mailto:stwang@CLEMSON.EDU]
> Sent: 28 Mart 2006 Sal 17:24
> To: alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca
> Subject: Re: Papers for Argyrotype
>
>
>
> Loris,
>
> Its wet strength is very good compared to other thin papers. There is
> some translucency so you may need to back it with something for
> presentation. It's also not bright white.
>
> I have not used it for Pt/pd or Ziatype but would be surprised if it
> can't be used.
>
> Sam
> On Mar 28, 2006, at 7:22 AM, Loris Medici wrote:
>
>
>
> Ok, Dickblick lists that paper for $1 per 21"x31" sheet. I may order
> some. Do you know if it also works well with Pd/Pd (more specifically,
> Ziatype)? It's a pretty thin paper (77gsm). How's its wet strenght?
> Any info? I guess it should be matted with a white backing since it's
> so thin...
>
> TIA,
> Loris
>
>
Received on Tue Mar 28 10:08:38 2006