Lighten gum dichromate print

[Lani Doely]

What have you found to be the best way to lighten a gum print? A little bleach and water mix?

 

[koraks]

Do you mean a print that is finished and has been dried? Or a print still in the process of wet 'development'?
I'll alert @Andrew O'Neill and @Carnie Bob, two of the people who practice this process a lot and will be able to give suggestions.

Based on my experience with mostly other pigment processes, I'd suggest that during initial processing, you could wash the print a little longer so it loses a bit more pigment. But when it's finished, I'd consider it permanent. Attempts to re-soften the already hardened gum will be moderately effective at best, and the risk of flaking etc. seems very high to me. Not worth it; better make a new print instead.

 

[Carnie Bob]

Do you mean a print that is finished and has been dried? Or a print still in the process of wet 'development'?
I'll alert @Andrew O'Neill and @Carnie Bob, two of the people who practice this process a lot and will be able to give suggestions.

Based on my experience with mostly other pigment processes, I'd suggest that during initial processing, you could wash the print a little longer so it loses a bit more pigment. But when it's finished, I'd consider it permanent. Attempts to re-soften the already hardened gum will be moderately effective at best, and the risk of flaking etc. seems very high to me. Not worth it; better make a new print instead.

Koraks is right if its too dark you cannot wash it out in any reasonable way , I have tried , but one thing you can do is use watercolour crayons that can be applied to finished print and with skill create highlights and detail where none before existed, these crayons are permanent and do sink into the gum emulsion and are fun to use and the reason I am hooked on Gum Over Printing.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

The only way I've been able to lighten a print is to start over again, but with a tweaked negative.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

Friction works. Never tried it on a dry/wet again print though.

That said, it usually is easier and better to just start over and do it right.

 

[Lani Doely]

Do you mean a print that is finished and has been dried? Or a print still in the process of wet 'development'?
I'll alert @Andrew O'Neill and @Carnie Bob, two of the people who practice this process a lot and will be able to give suggestions.

Based on my experience with mostly other pigment processes, I'd suggest that during initial processing, you could wash the print a little longer so it loses a bit more pigment. But when it's finished, I'd consider it permanent. Attempts to re-soften the already hardened gum will be moderately effective at best, and the risk of flaking etc. seems very high to me. Not worth it; better make a new print instead.

An already print yes I know it’s a long shot I did get a little lightening from baking soda and water but not really what I wanted.

 

[Lani Doely]

Do you mean a print that is finished and has been dried? Or a print still in the process of wet 'development'?
I'll alert @Andrew O'Neill and @Carnie Bob, two of the people who practice this process a lot and will be able to give suggestions.

Based on my experience with mostly other pigment processes, I'd suggest that during initial processing, you could wash the print a little longer so it loses a bit more pigment. But when it's finished, I'd consider it permanent. Attempts to re-soften the already hardened gum will be moderately effective at best, and the risk of flaking etc. seems very high to me. Not worth it; better make a new print instead.

Yes a new print is the answer

 

[Lani Doely]

Koraks is right if its too dark you cannot wash it out in any reasonable way , I have tried , but one thing you can do is use watercolour crayons that can be applied to finished print and with skill create highlights and detail where none before existed, these crayons are permanent and do sink into the gum emulsion and are fun to use and the reason I am hooked on Gum Over Printing.

As noted above I tried baking soda in water and it worked a bit but a new print is the answer thank you!

 

[Lani Doely]

What have you found to be the best way to lighten a gum print? A little bleach and water mix?

Thank you all for answering. I thought I’d get an email alert if there was an answer. It looks like I didn’t sorry for the delay I was fussing over theses gal dang gum prints. You’re all awesome the answer is a new print!

 

[Lani Doely]

Friction works. Never tried it on a dry/wet again print though.

That said, it usually is easier and better to just start over and do it right.

A new print is the answer!

 

[Lani Doely]

Friction works. Never tried it on a dry/wet again print though.

That said, it usually is easier and better to just start over and do it right.

A new print is the answer!

 

[Lani Doely]

As noted above I tried baking soda in water and it worked a bit but a new print is the answer thank you!

I like your idea of watercolor crayons thanks!

 

[koraks]

I thought I’d get an email alert if there was an answer.

Ah, no, by default, replies to a thread you make don't trigger email alerts. You can change this in your Account Preferences (https://www.photrio.com/forum/account/preferences) and look for these settings:

 

[Lani Doely]

Ah, no, by default, replies to a thread you make don't trigger email alerts. You can change this in your Account Preferences (https://www.photrio.com/forum/account/preferences) and look for these settings:
View attachment 389523

Thank you I did.