Coating woes?

My first ry at salt printing has ended with a streaked blotchy mess. As near as I can tell I didn't get an adequate coating of the salt compound i.e. there is an overall image but some areas are a deep brown and loo good but the rest are a very weak milky tan. I assume is the milky tan is just the sensitizer without the salt.
I am using arches platine and applied the salt (ammonium chloride and sodium citrate)with an acrylic rod as I did the sensitizer and the coating looked even.
I did however have a lot of trouble with trying to get it even. Should I switch to a brush for the salt? double coat one or both salt and sensitizer? Put extra sizing on the paper?

You may need a surfactant to assist in spreading the chemicals.

PE

ronlamarsh said:

I am using arches platine and applied the salt (ammonium chloride and sodium citrate)with an acrylic rod as I did the sensitizer and the coating looked even.
I did however have a lot of trouble with trying to get it even. Should I switch to a brush for the salt? double coat one or both salt and sensitizer? Put extra sizing on the paper?

Click to expand...

I would suggest that you try the Richeson 9010 brush. It is the favorite brush of many people who hand coat with processes such as salted paper, vandyke, kallitype, and pt/pd. I find it much easier to get a good coat with the Richeson brush than with a rod, and especially for large prints.

Sandy King

coating salt prints

You might try coating with a wad of cotton. That's what we use (when we choose to coat by brushing v. floating). Like anything of these methods, it takes a little practice. Use large wad of cotton, make sure you soak the cotton well; brush in several directions to ensure you get rid of any puddles. Wait before drying to let it spread. Don't expect great results when you're first learning, this is technique-dependant.

My husband, Mark has been using the same paper as you (Platine) and has good results with coating this way.

I tried to attach one of his prints, but don't see it in the preview. (first time trying this... ). If you don't see it, you can email me and I'll send you a jpeg.
Best,
France