Hi and Welcome!

[dwross]

Emulsion makers are a small club right now. We are all starting near the beginning and growing together. If you are a "ground floor" kind of person, you've found a happy home!
Denise

 

[dwross]

This is terrific! I'd like to keep a reasonable amount of regular conversation going. I think it's easier to jump in with questions if people get to know each other a bit. What is everyone's photo background and what are your goals with emulsion making? I'm Denise, and I've been making emulsions for about ten years. I'm at a crossroads in my personal work. More research or just do my own art? Research is easier! I'm hoping that someone really creative will develop some beautifully compelling art that will show what the materials are capable of in the "modern" world.

 

[jnanian]

hi denise
i am really excited about this new group you made and i hope it takes off too !
i made emulsion when i was in college in the 1980s but since i ran out of time
as a student i used the pre-made, then life set in so i never continued making my own ...
so i am ok with coating and having fun that way .. have coated paper, metal, glass and plastic
and can't wait to start making my own to have ownership of everything from start to finish ( except for making
the metal, plastic glass and paper, but who knows i might start making paper too )
while i like prefab sprout, hand made is where it's at
and i hope to use this home made emulsion to jump about 100 years back and start making ferrotypes or something
equally as wacky ..

 

[dwross]

John,
I don't have a doubt in the world that you will do something wonderfully creatively wacky with emulsions . Looking forward!

 

[Nodda Duma]

Hi,

I'm starting to dig into this. Quick question: Where do you get glass plate for cheap? I found this: http://www.framedestination.com/glass/glass_2mm_clear_for_picture_frames/item/GLGREG00000000/ at ~$1 per 5" x 7" plate, but I'm wondering if there's a lower cost source.

Cheers,
Jason

 

[wildbillbugman]

Hi Everyone,
I may not have much to say here, because I work with Non-Gelatin Emulsions. But I will be as much help as I can. I just ordered Denise's new Book. I think that everyone who is interested in emulsion making needs to have Denise's Book. Also Ron Mowery's book. But I usually go my own way, and probably will never publish a book Unless I finally learn to spell-unlikely.
Bill

 

[dwross]

Hi Jason and Bill! Great to see you here.

Jason,
Buy the cheapest glass that fits in your plate holders. Plain, untreated, uncoated glass is actually the best. You really can't go wrong with a good local glass shop. They will size the thickness and cut your plates. If you have options in your area, you can shop around and compare estimates. Eventually, you may decide to cut your own glass. Good luck!
d

 

[wildbillbugman]

All,
I buy my glass on eBay. It is "Clear-Vue". There are several types, but I buy the cheapest "ordinary glass". It tends to be less green than ordinary window glass from the glass shops. This is important when I make permanent Pt/Pd/Au/pigment final images on glass. Not important for glass negatives. But I find it as cheap or cheaper than neighborhood glass shops.
Bill

 

[wildbillbugman]

BTW,
If you keep working with silver-halide emulsions, male or female, in about 3-5 years you will look just like me in the picture.
Bill

 

[dwross]

Lots of new members! Cool. Is anyone brave enough to step forward and start a discussion about some aspect of emulsion making? I promise that you will not look like Bill's avatar. Bill doesn't look like his avatar! It's a collodion wet plate, for gawds's sake! Wet plate's main claim to fame is its freaky portraits (Ok, the truth's out. I'm biased toward dry plate .)

 

[wildbillbugman]

I would love to step in and start off a real topic here. However,all my emulsions are gelatin free. So my observations of my emulsions do not apply to silver-gelatin. However, this dose not mean that I cannot comment on other peoples gelatin emulsions. So come on ! Lets do this !
Bill

 

[wildbillbugman]

OK, Since none of the gelatin users will step up and start a topic, I will ! Dose anyone know why Formalin works as an anti-fogging agent in a silver-halide-PVA emulsion ? For me, it works every time, but I know not why and no one has ever suggested a reason for this. The closest guess that I can think of is that rapid cross linking inhibits fogging in unexposed areas. Comments?
Bill

 

[wildbillbugman]

OK,
Nobody gives a damn about Formalin as an anti-fog agent.Therefor I will "axe" anoder question. Has anyone used TALC in silver-halide emulsions? In other types of coatings it is an excellent thermo-mechanical stabilizer. I am conducting a 'spear-mint on this subject this week. I will share my results.
At your service,
Bill

 

[wildbillbugman]

Dear Denise,
You have Destroyed my already fragile Ego! Here I thought that my Wet Plate Avatar was the truest image of me ever printed. Now you tell me I donada looka likea dat
. No Mercy for the "Strange !"! I really do miss Jim Morrison. Heroin Sucks!
Bill

 

[wildbillbugman]

You Guys just ain't no fun,
Two questions and O COMMENTS !

 

[dwross]

Thanks for trying, Bill! I'm puzzled, but then that is my default state. When more people figure out how much fun we're having, they'll come along. Takes time. In the meantime, have fun!

 

[wildbillbugman]

That's O.K. Denise. The more people "Drop Out" of Silver Photography, the more unusual we will be . Not that I have ever had a problem being "unusual". Old Chinese curse. "May you live in interesting timed."
Bill

 

[jnanian]

hi bill !
i wasn't aware of a PVA emulsion, can you post something about them ?
i keep buying tubs of PVA and they get hard before i get to use it all, maybe
this emulsion will help me use up my pva too
do you need to set it up on something cold like gelatin ?

 

[wildbillbugman]

John,
Do Not Confuse PVAlcohol with PVAcitate. The latter is not water soluble. I use a SOLID POWDER PVA Evanol 71-30. It is made by Dupont and sold by www. Thechemistrystore.com. I do not use gelatin. My emulsions are coated wet and must be dried by evaporation in the dark. I do not wish to discuss my formula at this time. Soon,I hope.

 

[jnanian]

excellent !
thanks bill, i appreciate you de-confusing me ... i thought it was the OTHER PVA ( elmers glue ) ..
john

 

[wildbillbugman]

John-Been there,done that ! Don't waste your time with Elmer's.

 

[wildbillbugman]

O.K., Guys- I have some results with talc as a functional filler in a silver/PVA emulsion. The talc makes the dried emulsion ROCK-HARD.And it still develops and clears via my standard homemade D-19,Homemade clearing agent. The talc also makes coating of the emulsion onto glass a whole lot easier and smother. More to come as I get the time,
Bill

 

[wildbillbugman]

Hello to All,
This A.M. I coated 5 4x5 plates with various concentrations of talc. I shoul have my results by Tuesday. I am posting this really to keep myself going. Working in a "vacuum" of response can be tedious.
Bill

 

[dwross]

Bill, I hope the plates turn out brilliantly!

I think you and I need to accept the fact that we're the only two on APUG trying to actively talk about this stuff. I'm not sure why the others joined the group. The vacuum is very tedious. It's actually starting to bother me and I thought my skin was way too thick and conditioned to be bothered by the silent treatment. I think I'm better off finally bowing out of APUG. Perhaps I'm doing something to stifle the conversation. That is an intolerably sad thought.

 

[NedL]

Denise, I enjoy reading about emulsion making and stop by TLF occasionally to see what's new. There's one recipe there from salt water and another from APUG member Kevin Klein, both of those caught my eye and look interesting ( I like the old-time blue-sensitive look ). I have a plate holder for my camera, so someday I'll probably give it a try. I've got more projects going right now than I can do already, so the time's not right yet.

The groups here at APUG don't get a lot of activity. I know I always forget to check in and see what's new ( usually not much! ). Maybe the new site design will call attention to new posts in groups.... anyway, I just wanted to say I read everything here with interest!

Ned