cyanotype on rives bfk

p1ot3 · Jun 1, 2011

hi;

i do have some problem with cyanotype on rives bfk paper. Specialist from Canson who saw it said it seems to be something with sizing (rives bfk is sized internally). strange spots/drops appear on it after drying . i have attached example (as i can not add link yet).

i still have few sheets of this paper and would like to use it. has anyone ever had such problem with paper? i should add that i did not see issue in vdb, only cyanotype (also, i have mixed new cyanotype chemicals)

thanks;
p.

dpurdy · Jun 1, 2011

I have made some very nice Platinum prints on Rives BFK even with the rough texture. I found the paper didn't work when I first tried it because the sizing was too hard. So I presoaked mine in Oxalic acid afterwhich it printed fine. It might be that just the getting it wet was what fixed it. It might have loosened up the sizing.
Dennis

R Shaffer · Jun 2, 2011

I use a lot of Rives BFK and I have never seen anything like what you got there. I usually ( not always ) give it a presoak in 1% oxalic acid at around 110F. I do this to shrink and slightly acidify the paper.

Bad batch or mishandled perhaps. Have you tried printing, spots & all?

p1ot3 · Jun 2, 2011

two votes for pre-soaking. i will try it.

i've printed and developed it but stains stays. i agree this could be bad batch. strange as it seems i have bought whole.

p

Whiteymorange · Jun 3, 2011

I doubt the "bad batch" theory. BFK should be pre-soaked. In it's traditional role in etching it is always soaked before using. The sizing will leach out in the process, making the uneven quality of the size no longer a problem. Acidification is another matter, clearly better left to those who know more about the processes you are using.

cyanotype on rives bfk

p1ot3

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