Dose Sistan Do Anything For VDB longevity?

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Dan Williams

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Oct 4, 2003
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For the past 1-1/2 years or so I have been printing some of my stuff in VDB. I understand that there are longevity problems with this process that can be improved by using toners and I have tried both gold and selenium but I prefer the color of the straight print.

First, I guess, I am asking if anyone has any idea of how long these prints on an appropriate paper, properly developed, fixed. and washed but untoned and unframed are likely to go without some sign of deterioration? Assuming - I really do not know - that environmental conditions cause the deterioration, can something such as Sistan help slow down the image destruction? I do use Sistan with Lith prints and some bleach and redevelope processes.

For that matter, has anyone actually had a properly processed print go bad in his lifetime? I make these for myself. Knowing that there my well be a longevity problem, I will not sell them.
 

Ed Sukach

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Nov 27, 2002
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One question: "VDB" .... stands for what? I would guess "Van Dyke Brown" ...
but ???
 

smieglitz

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Oct 18, 2002
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I had an untoned VDB printed in 1994 hanging in my bathroom on a sunlit wall for 10 years and saw no signs of deterioration. The room literally gets dripping wet with the humidity daily and the direct sunlight pours in and strikes just below where I've hung the print. Looks pretty stable to me.

I think reports of longevity problems probably had to do with prints that experienced improper washing and clearing back in the day. You want to make sure iron compounds are completely removed from the print and from what I've read by Sandy King related to kallitypes and related processes like VDB, the iron salts should be removed by an initial bath of citric acid at about 2% solution strength. I follow this with a second wash in running water, then fixing in 2% sodium thiosulfate, rinse, (gold toner and another rinse here typically) , clear in Hypo Clearing Agent and then a 30 minute wash.

I would not hestitate selling a VDB treated in this fashion. YMMV.

Joe
 
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