A question about Kalitypes

Mainecoonmaniac · Mar 6, 2015

I have a few questions about Kalitypes. Do Kalitypes last as long toned in selenium versus gold, platinum or palladium? What's the speed of Kalitype emulsion vs palladium? Is the curve of the Kalitype process similar to or the same as palladium process? Does humidity effect the color, contrast or speed of the print? What kind of paper do you recommend for Kalitypes?

Any info is appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Andrew O'Neill · Mar 6, 2015

I can only tell you that a selenium toned kallitype will last longer than an untoned Kallitype. Longer than a platinum/palladium print? I couldn't tell you. Yes, the curves are very similar. I haven't seen a change in print colour with changes in humidity, or speed. Print colour can be changed greatly by the addition of other metals in the sensitizer… or by toning with palladium, gold or by choice of developer.
Papers that are neutral, without alkaline buffers work best. If the paper has an alkaline buffer, a soak in sulfamic acid will take care of that, turning it into a great paper for kallitype printing. Rising Stonehenge would be an example. A great neutral paper is Arches Platine.
Are you just starting out in this process??

Mainecoonmaniac · Mar 6, 2015

Andrew. You're the best! I haven't started on kallitypes yet, but the low cost has me interested. What's your experience compared to platinum or palladium? Right now, I do ziatypes. I'm still learning about the intricacies of the process. Takes a lot of patience. It's slowly paying off.

Andrew O'Neill · Mar 7, 2015

All I can say is they're ver similar, with kallitype being the easier of the two… in my opinion. I can't afford platinum printing, but if I could, I would probably still stick with kallitypes. Once you have mastered ziatypes and then try kallitypes, you'll think you're cheating cuz it's much much easier.

gone · Mar 7, 2015

I watched your video on carbon printing Andrew. Wonderful job of showing how the process works from start to finish. Good job! I occasionally make etching prints, and all I can say is that etching is a walk in the park compared to carbon printing.

Andrew O'Neill · Mar 7, 2015

Thank you kindly, momus! I used to do a lot of etching back in the 80's, but stopped when I moved to Japan. I have an excellent press at the high school I teach at, so the urge has come back...

Bruce · Mar 7, 2015

Andrew

A question regarding toning. The other day I made some Kallitype prints and developed with Sodium Citrate developer which is my normal developer. I tried toning using gold chloride 5% for 5 minutes. Upon the print drying I noticed a light color grey stain around the image. I think its the toner interacting with either the paper or the Kallitype sensitizer solution.

Have you ever experienced any print staining after toning?

Andrew O'Neill · Mar 7, 2015

Hi Bruce,

The only time I had staining was when I put a few drops of gold chloride 1% in the sensitizer. The staining was within the image, not around it. I eventually realized it was the paper (Rising Stonehenge). After acidification before sensitizing, I never got stains. On good papers like Arches Platine, or Lana Aquarelle, I never get stains.
Which paper are you using? What's your tap water like? My tap water is very alkaline, so I have to add a bit of citric acid to my rinse water after development. I also use sodium citrate.

captainscot · Mar 7, 2015

Andrew, How did you like the results of adding the gold to the sensitizer after you figured out the staining problem? I was thinking of trying this but since i tone with gold anyway i didn't think i would see any difference in the end. I have some platinum #3 i was thinking of adding also.

Bruce · Mar 7, 2015

Hi Andrew

I am using Portofino Hot Press. I will do a test next week with this paper, some Cots 320 and of course Rising Stonehenge. I wlil let you know what I discover. I may post some image results of the DPUG site regarding these tests.

Andrew O'Neill · Mar 7, 2015

Captainscot, I get a warmer colour with the addition of gold chloride in the sensitizer, and a cooler colour from toning. I have no idea why this is…
When adding gold to the sensitizer, this formula has worked quite well for me: 1 part gold chloride working solution (5ml of 1% gold chloride diluted with 20ml distilled water) to 9 parts sensitizer.
Let me know your results with gold and platinum #3.

Bruce, let me know when you post your results!

Mainecoonmaniac · Mar 9, 2015

Wow Andrew. Finally saw the video and I really enjoyed it. carbon transfer is really labor intensive. This minds me so much of the old 8x10 Polaroid process. But carbon transfer is much harder. Must be a labor of love.

Andrew O'Neill · Mar 9, 2015

Thanks! It is indeed a labour of love!

A question about Kalitypes

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