I typically use sodium acetate as my developer for kallitypes. I have found that sodium acetate gives greater contrast and neutral tones, compared to a sodium citrate developer, and that the difference persists after toning with platinum or gold. In each printing session, I will decant my working developer to remove sediments from the jar, then top off with fresh sodium acetate solution.
Some random observations:
1. I stopped printing for a month or so, due to problems creating negatives that I am not allowed to discuss in this "Analog Workflow Content Area." When I returned to printing last week, I found that the sides of my glass developer jar (a Mason jar) were silver! I had no idea the silver load in my developer was so high, or that it would fall out of solution onto the jar like that. Can I sell it for big dollars to a Mason jar collector, do you suppose?
2. When I tossed the solution and printed using all-fresh sodium acetate, I was struck that the print was colder and darker than I expected. I am guessing that the replenished developer does not operate as completely as fresh.
3. In an effort to reintroduce some warmth into the process, I mixed sodium citrate into a batch of sodium acetate, in a ratio of 2:3 respectively, followed by a platinum toner. The combination resulted in a noticeably warmer print but with duller whites and (as a result) lower contrast. I liked the warmth but wasn't keen on the lower contrast. I may try to get to the same place by toning briefly with platinum, fixing, and then toning again with selenium.
Thoughts?
Some random observations:
1. I stopped printing for a month or so, due to problems creating negatives that I am not allowed to discuss in this "Analog Workflow Content Area." When I returned to printing last week, I found that the sides of my glass developer jar (a Mason jar) were silver! I had no idea the silver load in my developer was so high, or that it would fall out of solution onto the jar like that. Can I sell it for big dollars to a Mason jar collector, do you suppose?
2. When I tossed the solution and printed using all-fresh sodium acetate, I was struck that the print was colder and darker than I expected. I am guessing that the replenished developer does not operate as completely as fresh.
3. In an effort to reintroduce some warmth into the process, I mixed sodium citrate into a batch of sodium acetate, in a ratio of 2:3 respectively, followed by a platinum toner. The combination resulted in a noticeably warmer print but with duller whites and (as a result) lower contrast. I liked the warmth but wasn't keen on the lower contrast. I may try to get to the same place by toning briefly with platinum, fixing, and then toning again with selenium.
Thoughts?
