> Talking about GELATIN, I read somewhere that the gelatin used by the
> film manufacturing industry has animal origin. Now I remember, it was
> in Pop.Photography (no, I don't buy it!!).
That's OK Guillermo -- we'll never tell. And yes, every "gelatine silver
print" on RC paper, on fibre paper, on finest linen --even, I assume,
"Liquid Light" on masonite, eggshell or Tshirt -- is made using animal
gelatine (except Fuji?) In fact what those animals ate evidently plays a
significant role in the sensitivity of the gelatine.
As I recall, there's a particular mustard plant that makes the
sensitivity specks more sensitive in the latent image. (You could put it
on your hamburgers, too, maybe.)
OK, I realize I'm treading on VERY thin ice to make light (so to speak)
of this issue, but how about a serious, respectful, polite question: Do
those who object to animal gelatine in photo paper wear shoes? Made of what?
A few folks pointed out that the animals have been already killed for meat.
One more point -- if it weren't for these "domesticated" uses, the
animals would not have been born. They have been grown
for these purposes.
As for substitutes -- maybe as animals on the hoof become more & more
costly (as grazing land gives way to development) industry will
come up with polymers, or whatever, for its FACTORY PAPER. (I always knew
there was something wrongo about getting paper from a factory. This isn't
a problem at all when you coat your own! Just a few thousand million [as
they say on the BBC] others.)
Meanwhile, a student of mine tried agar agar for gum printing, where it
didn't work, though silver is, like they say, something completely
different.
Chow,
Judy