First Bromoil - Questions

[thefizz]

I inked my first bromoil today using Senefelder's Crayon black 1803A on Foma Variant IV 123 paper which was printed at one grade lower and one stop more exposure than my ordinary B&W version of the print.

I inked the print as per the "walking" method which seemed to work fine. I then followed this by dabbing the brush rapidly to try to clear the print and increase contrast but this didn't seem to have any affect. I then used a foam roller instead which cleared up the print.

I re-soaked the print but when wiping away the surface water with cotton wool, the ink just smeared in both the highlights and shadows. I wasn't expecting this. I inked it further which got rid of the smearing so I continued with the sequence of inking followed by the foam roller about fifteen times until I finally got the print looking good.

Is the smearing normal?
Would it normally take so long to work up the print?
Any idea why the dapping action had no effect on the print?

Peter

 

[cliveh]

Perhaps you are being too gentle with the water on cotton wool. I actually wipe with a sponge under running water. You can always re-ink.

 

[thefizz]

Perhaps you are being too gentle with the water on cotton wool. I actually wipe with a sponge under running water. You can always re-ink.

Would the shadows also lighten considerably when wiping?

 

[cliveh]

No, I don't think so.

 

[GLSmyth]

This is normal, though I have never inked/soaked fifteen times. After the first application of ink and the paper begins to dry out (you will see this when your hopping just adds to the highlights), I soak for a few minutes, place the paper face down on a paper towel, and squeegee the back. I then turn the paper over and place it on the glass and gently use another paper towel to remove the water from the front by placing it over the print and moving my hand over the towel.

Sometimes this results in a bit of a pattern on the print but it's no big deal because that pattern will go away as you reink. The second inking will initially remove the ink, then as the paper begins to dry out it will start taking it again.

Fomabrom Variant IV 123 is my favorite paper and I think that you will enjoy using it.

Cheers -

george

 

[thefizz]

I tried another today but every time I re-soaked the print and wiped it, all the tones washed away returning the image almost to its bleached state.

 

[thefizz]

Hi George, it was about fifteen applications of ink followed by the foam roller as the dabbing action didn't seem to do much. I only re-soaked about four times.

 

[cliveh]

I tried another today but every time I re-soaked the print and wiped it, all the tones washed away returning the image almost to its bleached state.

In that case you need to reassess your tanning, hardening chemistry. What are you using?

 

[thefizz]

Moersch bromoil developer and bleach.

 

[cliveh]

Try this:-

Copper Sulphate 113 gms
Potassium Bromide 113 gms
Potassium Bichromate 5 gms
Sulphuric Acid concentrated 6 gms
Distilled Water to make 1.8 lt