Finally start with alternative process

Loris Medici

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I don't know the product. But, as a general rule we don't use ready-made silver gelatin fixers (which mostly consist of ammonium thiosulfate); for Vandyke/Kallitype we use 2-5% "sodium thiosulfate". (I personally use and advocate "2mins in 2%" fixing procedure; that's adequately enough without compromising the print's longevity... But one has to pay attention to not exhaust the fixer by refreshing often.)
 

donbga

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You will have a very difficult time building a UV light source for an enlarger that will be intense enough for alternative process printing and it would be extremely expensive.

Learn to use the sun to start with and save money to construct a UV printer later. The sun will give you immediate gratification or close to it.

You didn't mention a contact printing frame. Do you have one? And yes you will have to produce enlarged negatives. Based on what you have written about expense of materials it sounds like to me your best option will be to go the paper negative route.

Also plan on purchasing a step tablet. If you can't afford that then you can't afford to print alternative processes.
 
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SadowskiPL

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For start I want to learn Cyanotype(new formula), VDB and Kallitype.
Can i use a photo paper for inkjet printers?
For start
 
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donbga

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SadowskiPL said:
For start I want to learn Cyanotype(new formula), VDB and Kallitype.
Can i use a photo paper for inkjet printers?
For start
Click to expand...

Photo paper for inkjet paper could possibly used for cyanotypes if you can oil it to make it transparent. At that point you are making digital negatives which we aren't allowed to talk about here.

A step tablet should considered be essential gear. It helps you understand what the process is doing in your darkroom.

I don't know how you plan to make a contact printing frame but if you are trying to duplicate a commercially made one you won't save any money unless you are really skillful with wood work and have the materials already. You can get by with two very thick pieces of glass clamped together if you want to go cheap, though thick glass isn't inexpensive either.

If you are going to pursue alt printing long term just do it right from the get go. Get your materials and equipment setup first. If you do so once you start printing you will be much more productive and happy.

When I started alt printing many many years ago I spent several months getting equipment and materials before making my first print - a cyanotype. The prints are long gone since they were so poor but I was able to improve my quality quickly by having the proper tools, materials and equipment.
 
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SadowskiPL

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I making/building Darkroom for Alt. Process and traditional photo.
Now I have a little part of chemicals and another stuff.
In this or next week I will buy:
- All chemicals,
- step tablet (one or 35 Step-tablets make by CTF Expresure in Krystel Company 20$ )
- and do Contact-print frame this is very Simple...
Photo-Paper for inkjet for start to making Prints not negatives.
For making enlarged negatives i will use :
- Enlarger
- Paper
- Contact frame
 

Chazzy

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I'm glad to hear that you will be making enlarged negatives the traditional way.
 
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SadowskiPL

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I want to make a enlarged negatives in traditional from Medium format and 35mm.
Digital negatives i will make from DSLR photos.
 

Loris Medici

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If the inkjet paper (that you intend to print cyanotype on) contains calcium carbonate filler/whitener/buffer (most do) you won't be able to make nice cyanotypes. Purchase sample sheets of all reasonably priced (to you) *watercolor papers* that are available to you locally, and try them with a step tablet. You'll find your paper(s)...
 
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SadowskiPL

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This reciples will be good?
http://alternativephotography.com/process_kallitype.html
http://alternativephotography.com/process_vandyke.html
This chemicals for start will be good ?
- Azotan Srebra - 30gram - 36,00zł - Silver Nitrate
- Kwas Winowy - 100gram - 7,20zł - Tartaric Acid
- Bromek Potasu - 200gram - 10,00zł - Potasium Bromide
- Tiomocznik - 100gram - 7,20 - Tiohulea
- Szczawian żelaza II- 200gram - 60,00zł - Ferric Oxalate II
- Cytrynian Sodu - 400gram - 12,00zł - Sodium Citrate
- Kwas Cytrynowy - 500gram - 10,00zł - Citric Acid
- Węglan Sodu - 200gram - 8,00zł - Sodium Carbonate
- Sodu Tiosiarczan - 1kg - 25,00zł - Sodium Thiosulfate
- Siarczan(IV) sodu - 250gram - 7,50zł - Sodium sulphite NaSO3
- ŻELAZICYJANEK POTASU K3[Fe(CN)6] - 250gram - 37,50zł

And this i have now:
- Potasium Dichromate
- Pirosiarczyn potasu
- Amonium Ferric Citrate Green
- (NH4)3[Fe(C2O4)3].3H2O
- NiSO4
- Tymol

1g of Silver Nitrate cost 1,20PLN = 0,4$ niach niach niach.
 
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donbga

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SadowskiPL said:
Some tips for VDB & Kallitype ?
Click to expand...

First of all the two processes really aren't anything alike. Pick one or the other to work with and follow the guide lines in the articles you linked to.

Second start working toward actually practicing alt. printing. You can't learn it online by simply asking questions or reading articles.

Thrid I would start out with traditional cyanotype since it is the least expensive of the processes to learn and it will teach you skills which you can leverage for other processes.
 

Loris Medici

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I second this, Cyanotype is a perfect process to enter into the alt processes realm. It's easy(!), but then it's not that easy. (If you want to have high quality results that is...) Therefore, Cyanotype's a very good process to get accustomed to - and most importantly gain the discipline required for - most alt processes...


donbga said:
...Third I would start out with traditional cyanotype since it is the least expensive of the processes to learn and it will teach you skills which you can leverage for other processes.
Click to expand...
 
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SadowskiPL

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Can I print my own Step Wedge on inkjet printer on transparency sheet ?
Or made by CTF expresure in 1270DPI ?
 
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SadowskiPL

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What paper will be best to produce enlarged paper negatives ?
1. Ilford Xpress RC
2. Adox Easy Print RC
3. Foma Fomaspeed Variant
 
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SadowskiPL

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Hello,

;( I don't have any source of Ferric Oxalate...

Do you have some formulas of making FO ?

I know about Ferric Nitrate (192PLN/1kg ... to much... ) + Oxalic Acid (15PLN/1kg) but this method is to expensive for me ( in this method also is produced in solution a Nitric Acid :/ )

Do you know some methods with Oxalic Acid?

Like:
- Oxalic Acid + Ammonium-Ferric Sulphate + H2O2 30% ?

Or maybe the best is :

Ferrus Oxalate + Oxalic Acid + H2O2 30% ?

Pozdrawiam
Konrad Sadowski
 
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phritz phantom

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sorry, maybe you can find a simlar recipe in english or polish. at least you know there is a way.
or maybe you know someone who speaks german. usually i'd translate it for you, but since it's chemistry and i'm neither perfect at english nor a chemist, i'm way too nervous to make some kind of mistake.
 
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