Grainier looking lith

[d.reed]

Hello,

I've been doing lith printing for a short while. I've both of Tim Rudman's books and I've been looking through what information I can find online as well.

I'm using Fomatone VC RC and Easylith and have found them a lovely combination, lots of colour but not so much the graininess effect. Is there a factor I can focus on such as chemical ratios that will produce a grainier look with this paper and developer combination? I quite like the amount of colour I get with this and would like to keep that. Or would I be better to look at other papers? I've been using them quite dilute, 20ml A/20 B/1000 H2O at 68F.

Thanks,
Dana

 

[Mark Fisher]

Try other papers. The chemicals do have an effect, but secondary to the paper in my experience. There are 2 available that I've used with serious grain. Slavich Unibrom is grainy and controllable....but with occasional quality problems Fomabrom VC is seriously grainy and has a very particular look and is hard to control. Do a flickr search for lith and the paper names and you'll see examples. They are not very colorful, though. Another that I use (from my freezer stock!) is Kentmere Warmtone VC. It is more colorful and still grainy....and sadly discontinued. Some may still be available, though.

 

[SuzanneR]

You might also add texture by printing through, say, tissue paper or cheesecloth. Just lay it right down on top of the paper in the easel, and see what happens!

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Easylith in general gives a pretty fine grain, it seems. The most pronounced grain I have gotten with any combination of paper and developer is Fomabrom 112 and Arista Powder Lith (from Freestyle in California).
Ilford MGWT and Slavich G4 gives a fairly grainy appearance also.
If you use negatives of moderate to high density and you have to expose for a long time, you can get some interesting grain that way.

Attached picture is Fomabrom and Aristalith, subsequently toned in sepia and selenium.

 

[Rich Ullsmith]

General observation: less sodium sulfite, more grain. To the point of pepper fogging. I am not familiar with your developer, so I do not know what is in there to begin with.

 

[d.reed]

Thanks, I'll look at some of those papers. I'll just have to experiment a bit more with the chemistry too. I've only just started to vary the developer ratios. 2 to 1 A to B seems to have a small effect, little more grain, little less colour.

 

[MVNelson]

the others are correct .... grain is by far more the paper than the chemistry.