Gustave Le Grey's Paper Negatives

[holmburgers]

I use the process of Le Grey since it delivers a fairly fast negative.
I build a camera with a lens f8 to f11 and can make a good negative in 6 to 8 seconds. Compared to the process of Fox Talbot this is fast.

The main problems are the sears for good paper, the search for raw chemicals and the required expertise to work with this process:
* The paper is critical. You need a 80 to 100 gr paper, no watermark, fine textured, possible to work in wet conditions with the paper.
* The raw chemicals can be found, I found some sourses but it took some time.
* You need a good instrument to check weight and mixture. Some chemicals are expensive and you need for some chemicals 1 gr or less (if you prepare the solution in limited quantities).
* Salting the paper can be done in advance, sensitising must be done the day you take the picture. Plan our work in advance. JJust taking a picture is not possible with this process.
* After taking the picture and developping/fixing the material, the paper must be waxed. I use bee-wax (white) and an oven of 60-70 °C.
* The final result is a thin waxed paper negative, breakable but with a beatiful density and tone. One can use salted paper as a printing medium.

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Sounds like fascinating work you're doing. Would it be possible to share a picture of your waxed paper negative? I've always been curious to see how translucent it can become.

Also, Rick, how do you strip the emulsion?