Beginning alt processes - materials advice (UK)?

[mrtoml]

I posted the following at APUG, but was told it might get deleted. Someone suggested here was the place:

I started to print some cyanotypes last weekend. It was a little frustrating at first (the weather kept changing for starters) but I actually got a couple I was pleased with in the end. I am completely new to alternative processes.

I was printing digital negs on some old Pictorico film that I have had in storage for years and some Canson paper. The Canson paper was a disaster and the images just washed right off. I then tried some Langton watercolour paper and had better luck:

It seems that the paper and digital film is pretty expensive. Is it worth buying cheaper alternatives to practise with? There are a few cheaper digital acetate type films out there and lots of cheaper papers than the ones I have been using. I think the Fotospeed film that is available in the UK is pretty expensive and I haven't seen Pictorico film anywhere at all.

I suspect that cheap paper will turn out to be a false economy (if it works at all), but I am not so sure about the digital film. Any advice appreciated.

I also want to try Vandykes and other processes at some point as well. I think I am hooked.

 

[Herzeleid]

I am using canson montval paper for cyanotype, vandyke and salt print never had problems. I used bockingford and schoeller as well. May be you are using a different type of canson, look for montval.
All sizes | Cyanotype Experiment | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

I have not used pictorico yet, but I have used folex inkjet films. It is fine with QTR but I don't believe they dry quick enough. They work very fine for cyanotypes because the ink load is quite less compared vandyke and salt. And the base of the film is ok comparing my exposure times to other people.
I use an exposure unit made with UV bulbs 365BL and they are 11cm away from the paper. 5:15 min for cyanotype, 3:15 for VDB and 10 for salt print are my base exposure times.

 

[mrtoml]

Thanks, Herzeleid.

I am not sure I can get Pictorico in the UK any more. I'll have a look for Folex.

I just used the Epson ABW driver with a 7800 on the Pictorico and they looked fine, and I have a monochrome (UT7) setup in my 2200 (I don't know if there are any QTR curves available for alt processes).

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

You may not be able to buy it in a store, but you can always order it from B&H online - save up your needs until you can put together a batch order of stuff to save on the shipping.