Alt process print exchange?--#1

[Jeremy]

I know it's getting close to the middle of December and I'm not sure I can have my prints mailed by the 15th. The good news is that between my first and second attempts I have made giant leaps in results. I think the third time will be the clincher.

Also, does anyone have Emil's (Gandolfi) physical address?

Alan.

Alan, no I don't have Emil's address either.

No worries about when your print arrives to me as I'll be leaving on Tuesday and won't be back until the first of the year

 

[colrehogan]

I do. Send me a PM.

 

[mark]

Picked up Don's tricolor gum and am so impressed I want to try it out. I've never seen one outside of the net and there is a world of difference. Really neat.

Well, guess I better get off my butt and see what I can do.

 

[gr82bart]

did you get the pltpd print as well - the cyanotype was a bonus?

Holy cow! Talk about a pleasant surprise, I didn't even peel apart the two prints! You're killing me! Not only do I have stunning prints, I have two of them. I feel I'll be offering trinkets in comparison.

Regards, Art.

 

[donbga]

Picked up Don's tricolor gum and am so impressed I want to try it out. I've never seen one outside of the net and there is a world of difference. Really neat.

Well, guess I better get off my butt and see what I can do.

Mark,

I'm glad to hear that you received my print. If you do indeed decide to give tricolor gum a try let me know I'll be glad to help out. There are no secrets to the process but there are a lot of things you will need to understand to be sucessfull. I certainly can't lay claim to inventing anything here, without the help of others I wouldn't have suceeded.

Don

 

[jimgalli]

Received 2 gorgeous prints from Jeremy! They are just beautiful. Yes, the Ford definitely would have caught my eye. The portrait is brilliant! It hangs in my darkroom and I find myself thinking "if I could ever......." It just simply is the most well balanced portrait I've ever seen.

 

[Ole]

Yay, all mine are now printed and will be in the hands of the Post Office on Monday!

J

Arrived this end today. Lovely print - I can se I'm going to have to try that process too...

In the meantime the second coat of VDB is drying on the papers, so I'll get the printing done today. Changed my mind about the negative (again), but now it's final (if it's printable at all)!

That means it's going in the mail tomorrow or possibly Wednesday. Can't be any later, or I'll have to mail them from an oil rig (not very practical).

 

[reellis67]

Mine are on the way, sorry for the hold up. I just needed some time to reprint mine (a few times) to get better results so hang in there, they are en route!

- Randy

 

[matt miller]

I received a beautiful kallitype from Steve Allen today. I've wondered what they looked like untoned, now I know. Thanks Steve!

 

[mark]

People are going to have to be a bit patient with mine. I am swamped at work but start a two week break this saturday. If I do not get them printed this week it will happen mfirst of next week.

SOrry for the delay

 

[colrehogan]

I received Steve's print today. I have not printed yet either. I'm off work between Christmas and New Year's. I expect to do my printing and shipping then.

 

[gr82bart]

OK, it is amazing what a UV light can do for you. I bought the Elation UV Wash light for $150 and this thing appears to work just fine for my 4x5 negs. I went on a marathon last night - started around 5pm and didn't finish 'till 2am! Made all the platinum prints I wanted - with a semblance of consistency - for this round, even the next round's and just prints I wanted to try out. About 30 prints in all. Used the Photographer's Formulary Kit. It was like a production line! I see my developer is a weird colour though - I guess it's spent...

Prints will be mounted today and sent out on Monday. Then it's time to sleep.

Carl, Mike, John, Don, Gerhard and Mark, when you get these, please give me HONEST feedback. I can take it and I want to learn. This is my first time ever.

For example, how the heck do you spread the sensitizer evenly with a brush?

Regards, Art.

 

[donbga]

Art,

I see my developer is a weird colour though - I guess it's spent...

Which developer did you use? Most likely it is fine, although it may look quite murkey. Just consider it seasoned.

please give me HONEST feedback. I can take it and I want to learn. This is my first time ever.

Okay I won't give you a candy coated critique! I assume you received my gum print? Yes?

For example, how the heck do you spread the sensitizer evenly with a brush?

Use a magic brush and coat slowly and lightly until the print looses its sheen.

Don Bryant

 

[photomc]

Congratulations Art...it's easy to lose track of time once you get things all working
I agree with Don about the magic brush (Richeson 9010). Since I have not been to any type of workshop, or even worked with another alt. process printer can't tell you a right or wrong way to coat, just how I do it. Pour the substrate onto the center of the area I want to coat, then immediately start to work the solution (it's more like pushing the solution) around the area to be coated. Of course you are trying to make sure the area coated is even, which I seem to get by going up/down, left/right and then at a 45 degree angle. You know the when you are finished because the surface takes on a more velvet look. Not sure it matters, but I find using a 1 inch brush works best for 4x5's, but use a 2 inch brush for 5x7 and 8x10. Just be sure you move quickly, but not frantic.

Looking forward to seeing your work and promise to give you honest thoughts...just remeber I'm a novice at this too!

 

[gr82bart]

Which developer did you use?

I used potassium oxalate - it came in the Photographer's Formulary Kit.

Okay I won't give you a candy coated critique!

Kewl! I just posted 3 pics I made last night in the gallery. The one of the Metropolitan Hotel you (and everyone else in my exchange groups) will be getting.

I assume you received my gum print? Yes?

Yes. It is beautiful and I am envious.

Use a magic brush and coat slowly and lightly until the print looses its sheen.

I used a 'sponge brush'. Is that the same thing? I've read about using a glass 'pusher' rod. Does that help any better or should I be using a plain jane camel hair brush?

Regards, Art.

 

[Joe Lipka]

The "magic brush" is a Richeson 9010 watercolor brush. Jerry's Artarama usually has the best price. It is better than a puddle pusher or a glass rod.
Platinum developer is inexhaustable. If you don't contaminate it, it will literally last for years. I had one batch that lasted for about 8 years. Had to top it off every once in a while, but once you "break it in" it lasts for a long time. You can filter the developer through a coffee filter to remove the platinum and palladium metal that accumulates through use.

 

[donbga]

I used potassium oxalate - it came in the Photographer's Formulary Kit.
Kewl! I just posted 3 pics I made last night in the gallery. The one of the Metropolitan Hotel you (and everyone else in my exchange groups) will be getting.
Yes. It is beautiful and I am envious.
I used a 'sponge brush'. Is that the same thing? I've read about using a glass 'pusher' rod. Does that help any better or should I be using a plain jane camel hair brush?

Regards, Art.

Art,

Theoreticaly the PO doesn't go bad like silver gelatin paper developer. Over time it will accumulate palladium which will 'season' the developer which will change the developer characteristics some. Eventually it will become quite murky. At that point you may want to decant the developer to remove some of the sludge and replinish with fresh potassium oxalate.

As for the sponge brush I would replace that as soon as you can with a Richeson 9010 brush, a.k.a. the magic brush. The sponge brush abrades the paper surface raising the nap. The Richeson coats very smoothly and doesn't abraid the paper. You can also use a glass rod, a.k.a. 'puddle pusher'. It will coat much smoother than a sponge brush but the magic brush is the champ. I'm not sure what a camel hair brush is or how it would work so I can't comment on that.

Don

 

[gr82bart]

Congratulations Art...it's easy to lose track of time once you get things all working

The good times always seem to go so fast!

I agree with Don about the magic brush (Richeson 9010).

Thanks for the technique. I'll give that a try. One thing I have to do is 'darken' my margin lines so I don't spread the sensitizer to thinly over an area larger than I need. Also, I'm going to get this brush.

Looking forward to seeing your work and promise to give you honest thoughts...just remeber I'm a novice at this too!

I'm really quite nervous about this, since it was a lot firsts for me - first 4x5, first Polaroid type 55 film use, first picture of the day, first time PT printing, first time use of a UV light source that no one else seems to use, first time using this funky contact printer which I still haven't read anywhere what I am suppose to look for when I peel back the print, first time trying to spread a few drops of sensitizer over a thinly drawn margin in a darkroom with a small safe light, first time using my new bathroom as a darkroom, first time using my kitchen as the developing, etching, washing and drying area...egad!

Art.

 

[gr82bart]

Platinum developer is inexhaustable. If you don't contaminate it, it will literally last for years. I had one batch that lasted for about 8 years. Had to top it off every once in a while, but once you "break it in" it lasts for a long time. You can filter the developer through a coffee filter to remove the platinum and palladium metal that accumulates through use.

This is so good to know. I was getting ready to dump it!

Thanks, Art.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Got a GREAT print from Mateo today--a beautiful print, and very much in the luddite elitist spirit.

I'm about ready to go with mine. I've got a pile of albumenized paper and a few good negs, so I just need some time to sensitize and a moderately sunny day.

 

[photomc]

A bit late, but right in the middle of the holiday I became the proud owner of a nice plt print from Art (gr82bart) Nice work for your first plt Art, a very good start I would say. The only critique I can offer is the coating was a little uneven, but you know that already and IIRC you plan to purchase one of the Richeson 9010 brushes - you will be very please IMO. Thanks for the print, like I said before...nice Christmas gift.

 

[reellis67]

Got a GREAT print from Mateo today--a beautiful print, and very much in the luddite elitist spirit.

I'm about ready to go with mine. I've got a pile of albumenized paper and a few good negs, so I just need some time to sensitize and a moderately sunny day.

Oh man! I totaly agree about this print. Mateo, I think I need to send you some cash or something. That is a most beautiful piece of workmanship and it is an honor to get something this nice in exchange for my, er, effort <cough>... I really need to get a better handle for the next exchange now that I see what can be done when you understand what you are doing.

- Randy

 

[CarlRadford]

Stunning print from Mateo...

an incredible piece of work that one can draw inspiration from and aspire too! It will get framed and go on my wall - many thanks for a wonderful image.

 

[photomc]

Yep, there is nothing quite like an original Mateo is there?!! Was lucky enough to get one (now in the gallery) from one of the early print exchanges - a nice 5x7 and must admit between Mateo and Jorge the two manged to of them managed to get me off my backside and try the alt. process....been cussin' em ever since

 

[colrehogan]

My apologies to Group 7, I haven't made any prints yet. I seem to like to get sick this time of year. I will try and heat some water for my HCA and pot. ox. solutions tonight. I have been a major slug this week.