Samples should arrive tommorow, John Purcell Paper has 1000 double imperial sheets (117cmx76) in stock, so there is enough to go around should the paper be usable, there is a slight price increase but not major.
Waiting to hear your thoughts Dave.
OK, so it's a few years old...geez.
I was hoping you would say that it is now available in white instead of natural white.
I first became aware of the paper in October, 2001 when it was marketed by Westin. A friend sent me some sample sheets as well as a beautiful 8x10 palladium contact print.
It's really a good paper, just wish it was white and heavier.
Don
I have been testing a few samples of the new Platine, thanks to Martin Axon. My initial impression is that this paper isn't as good as the previous batch. It takes about 15%-20% more volume of emulsion to achieve the same Dmax as the previous batch (#58070 I think?). It also needs more platinum to hold back solarizing in the darkest areas when compared to the COT-320 and the as-of-yet unreleased Revere Platinum.
It's been incredibly dry here in Santa Fe, but Martin is in Connecticut and is experiencing similar phenomena. It looks to me like the Revere Platinum might be the new hot ticket.
Martin doesn't use tween. I definitely think this paper needs it, plus a heavier coating. He said that his initial tests showed a mid-1.3 dmax, but with a heavier coat he got it over 1.4.
Martin doesn't use tween. I definitely think this paper needs it, plus a heavier coating. He said that his initial tests showed a mid-1.3 dmax, but with a heavier coat he got it over 1.4.
Thanks for the numbers, I am achieving similar low results (1.32) , even with a heavy coat. For my environment, which at the moment is quite high humidity, this new formulation has to have a drop of tween otherwise you get an inconstant coat (white speckling).
Having used Cot 320 every day for the last 3 months, which as you know is essentially Platine with a thin layer of gelatine, I have only had to deal with a very small amount of black spots i.e the black plague however my initial tests with the new formulation show that this is quite a problem.
I have ordered some more sample sheets from my supplier before giving up on this paper as I would like to give it a good chance to perform. It has been a good paper in the past, however unfortunately I think the days are gone when you could rely on it.
David,
I'll have some samples of the new Revere Platinum in a few days. I really hope that this new paper can be a valid alternative to COT320/Platine.
I'll let you know the results.
Yes that would be good to hear some feedback on the 'Revere', i have heard good things about it from B&S.
At the moment i am also testing some pre-treated BFK Rives @ 250gsm/280gsm and 300gsm. This paper seems to be the most common paper used by Penn, I shall have to go back and view the Penn originals prints again as I cant remember whether he printed on the rough side or the mesh side, I am sure it was the latter. The paper has showed some promising results in the past and if there has'nt been too much change since Penn's printing days, could again be used for multiple hits. Anyone else got experience with this paper?
Do you think Penn pre-treated the BFK Rives ?
.
Has anyone tried treating the new Platine with oxalic acid yet? I'll run some through a tray and see if it makes a difference. Rives BFK is a good paper, it's just incredibly absorbent, and pre-treating it will make it even more so. It might take twice the emulsion to cover the image area.
Rives BFK is all I have used for the past year and half, although for kallitype & gum, not pt/pd. To make life easy (?) I pretreat all the paper the same.
I shrink in very hot water with 1 teaspoon oxalic per liter ( approx 1% ) for 1/2 to 1 hour. After it's dry I tray size in a 21 gram gelatin w/ .8 gram chrome alum per liter. 54 drops ( total ) emulsion to coat 11x14. For kallitype I preferred the results if I sized with arrowroot starch, but I prefer tray sizing batches of paper. PVA diluted 1:1 as a size works, but it is still very absorbent. If you really want to get miserly with emulsion, then 1:1 PVA over the gelatin.
I don't really measure Dmax much as I prefer a very warm black almost sepia tone. Last time I checked I was at 1.35, which for me is a very convincing black.
Thanks Rob for the info, which weight are you using and which side are you printing on? What is it that you like about BFK over the many other papers available?
David, the Penn Small Trades series were done almost exclusively with Arches paper. I had a short email discussion with a friend of Penn's at the time these were printed. He said that the studio used to look like a laundry when they were sizing sheets with gelatin, sometimes 2-3 layers with drying in between.
Thats interesting you mention that, just yesturday i was looking at some Arches Aquarelle and thinking about trying some as I remember seeing this paper used on some of the Penn's 'Street Findings' series, the paper is quite easy to identify as it has a heavy emboss in the bottom corner. Quite of few those prints are single layer on Arches and have a good strong black (see attached). Anyone used it before?
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