> Normal? This is the problem with the Internet. I don't know whether you
> live across the street from me or on the dark side of the moon... Normal
> can mean +40C or -40C! Coated tissues in *my* lab (North Eastern part of
> North America), if not in "my book" (not necessarily the one on paper;-))
> requires a few minutes to get the gelatin to solidify and then, once
> suspended with a gentle flow or air on the back of the 140 gram photo-grade
> Schoeller paper I use, it dries quickly, especially in the winter months
>
Well, I don't live at either of those places.
Normal for me is what you describe in your own book as the ideal
conditions for carbon printing, relative humidity of 50-60% and
temperatures at or below 70 degrees F. In these conditions my tissue
takes at least 12-18 hours to dry, even using a fan to force air
circulation. For my coating paper I use a 100 lb drawing paper and
apply 75ml of gelatin solution to 26X34cm sheets. I doubt we have
ever experienced 30% humidity in South Carolina and can not imagine
what that would be like with this process. Nevertheless, in the
conditions I describe carbon works perfectly for me. The only
problem I have ever had was at a workshop I taught a few years
back in the Appalachian mountains in the summer. The ambient
temperature was at about 78-80 degrees F. and the relative
humidity very high, perhaps over 75%. It was very difficult to
get everything to work, but eventually all of the students were
able to make a few prints.
Sandy King
>