Re: Silver Nit-rate-mare

Shane Patterson (patters@hubcap.clemson.edu)
Thu, 13 Oct 1994 15:32:45 -0400

Chico Seay says
.. I have been using distilled water in my
>silver nitrate solution. The problem is that the highlights
>are fogging almost as quickly as the shadows develop, leaving
>a very unsatisfactory image. The coated paper achieves this
>"fog" in complete darkness although a bit more slowly.
>
>DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY ADVICE AS TO WHAT I AM DOING WRONG???
>I am at wits end on this and would appreciate any help in
>this matter.

Chico,

I'm going to make a guess and say that your salt solution is contaminating
your silver nitrate. Your damp brush picks it up and carries it from one
print to the next. To avoid this rinse brush in tap water and then
distilled water between coating each sheet. Also use only enough silver
nitrate at a time to coat one sheet of paper. Discard any remaining. If you
return it to your stock, the whole will become contaminated.

Shane

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Shane Patterson Dept of Visual Arts College of Architecture
patters@hubcap.clemson.edu Clemson University
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