This is interesting: I am just about finished printing a portfolio (that should have been finished years ago, but that's another story), and have run short of paper. I bought 250 sheets of 11x14 COT320 (the excellent batch 5212) for this project in the fall of 2009 but I think I must have used some of it for something else last year and have come up 20-25 sheets short.
So I just opened up a package of 22x30 COT320 (batch 5207) to cut down a few sheets and just as I'm about to put the first sheet into the Rototrim I notice there is a watermark which reads ... (drumroll) ... Arches Platine.
Of course I am aware of the speculation that the COT and Platine were made from the same stock and possibly on the same molds, but I guess this confirms the suspicion. This paper is still ever-so-slightly creamier in color than the Platine that I have on hand, which is consistent with past experience. It also has trimmed edges like COT, rather than the deckled/torn edges of Platine.
I'll see how it prints tomorrow.
~ Keith
Colin, I made a print with the oxalic acidified Arches 90#, pure palladium with a hint of NA2...beautiful results, slightly less speed than Fabriano EW, but the real surprise was Stonehenge (white). Beautiful range of tones, great dMax, separation and a nice warm color. Very rich print, IMO. This paper was also acidified.
My previous batch of Fabriano, even when acidified and re-acidified, does not reach the richness and depth of the Stonehenge.
A heads up on the latest news: Platine should be available in about 3 weeks. Folks on the east cost of the U.S. might see it earlier from distributors out there.
Even more good news: Revere Platinum, the first brand new paper for Platinum/Palladium printing in over 15 years will be hitting our shores around the same time. Available in not only the standard 300GSM/140lb, Legion Paper went a step further and produced a lightweight 145GSM/67lb version for us. Pricing on the 300GSM should be around 25%-30% less than Arches Platine, and the 145GSM will be less than 1/2 the retail price of Platine. Look for Revere Platinum at Bostick & Sullivan, NY Central Art Supply, Daniel Smith and Talas. Our in-housetests show the Revere to be incredibly easy to work with, and produces Pt/Pd prints similar in tonality to Platine and COT-320. A big thanks to Martin Axon and David Michael Kennedy for their input as well.
-Dana Sullivan
Bostick & Sullivan
Even more good news: Revere Platinum [...] Our in-housetests show the Revere to be incredibly easy to work with, and produces Pt/Pd prints similar in tonality to Platine and COT-320.
This really is fantastic news! I just hope we get someone in the UK carrying it soon. Thanks for the update Dana.
-Ciaran
I had a look at your website, are you really claiming to be the only portrait photographer in the world to be printing in platinum!
No, of course not - that would be an utterly ridiculous claim! I could probably count a dozen on this forum alone. I am very specific with the way I have chosen to construct the sentence I assume you are referring to. Nothing has been written to mislead,......
I am the only full time professional Family Portrait Photographer in the world that both makes handmade prints with the platinum process, and frames the results in-house to museum standards
I find the wording highly misleading, having taught you the process only last year to make such bold claims is quite something. Half a dozen of the people that I have taught over the last 5 years now specialise in printing portraits for clients in platinum, thats just in England. I was in fact directed to your website by one of them.
European vendors: I'm not sure if there will be anyone in Europe stocking this paper. Yes, it's made by Magnani in Italy, but Legion Paper owns the name and formulation. As far as I know, all the paper must come to the U.S. first, and then back out to distributors.
Dana Sullivan
Bostick & Sullivan
European vendors: I'm not sure if there will be anyone in Europe stocking this paper. Yes, it's made by Magnani in Italy, but Legion Paper owns the name and formulation. As far as I know, all the paper must come to the U.S. first, and then back out to distributors.
Type II Cyanotypes: Not sure on this one. I've tested the Revere Platinum with Pt/Pd, vandyke and traditional cyanotype and had great results. When Legion approached me about making a new paper, I told them that it had to be free of absolutely all buffers. Revere Platinum has no calcium carbonate or buffers added at any point during manufacturing, so it shouldn't need any acidification. Personally, I'm excited about the 145GSM version, because I think it will make a great paper for floating albumen.
Dana Sullivan
Bostick & Sullivan
BTW, anyone using the new(er) Weston Parchment from Butler-Deardon?
I have a few sample sheets that I'm looking forward to trying...
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