Folks,
I've been gelatin sizing Fabrianno Artistico EW paper with formaldehyde for years and it works well, but I don't like the smell or the potential health hazards. I do own a proper safety mask for the work, and I have had appropriate ventilation as well.
I am finishing a new darkroom in California, and am getting close to starting up the gum printing again, but I thought I would see if there has been anything new in the sizing realm in the past few years.
A little searching didn't produce anything new since about 2009 or so, and the general conclusion at that time was that gelatin and formaldehyde appeared to be the best approach to avoid yellowing, etc.
Is anyone using anything different these days?
I've tried gluteraldehyde in the past with little success. I think I tried glyoxal as well.
The chrome alum takes too long to harden, so I've never gone that route, and PVA is too fragile for the multi-layer gums I do.
Anyone have any additional suggestions?
---Michael
I've been gelatin sizing Fabrianno Artistico EW paper with formaldehyde for years and it works well, but I don't like the smell or the potential health hazards. I do own a proper safety mask for the work, and I have had appropriate ventilation as well.
I am finishing a new darkroom in California, and am getting close to starting up the gum printing again, but I thought I would see if there has been anything new in the sizing realm in the past few years.
A little searching didn't produce anything new since about 2009 or so, and the general conclusion at that time was that gelatin and formaldehyde appeared to be the best approach to avoid yellowing, etc.
Is anyone using anything different these days?
I've tried gluteraldehyde in the past with little success. I think I tried glyoxal as well.
The chrome alum takes too long to harden, so I've never gone that route, and PVA is too fragile for the multi-layer gums I do.
Anyone have any additional suggestions?
---Michael