New Alt-Process Paper: Magnani Revere Platinum

[Barry S]

There's a new purpose-made alternative process paper imported by Legion paper from the Cartiere Magnani paper mill in Italy. Magnani Revere Platinum paper is a an unbuffered mould-made 100% cotton, smooth-surfaced paper available in medium (300 gsm) and light (145 gsm) weights. Both weights are available in 22" x 30" sheets and the 300 gsm is also available in large 44" x 30" sheets.

Reports of preliminary testing (via DPUG) indicate the paper works very well with platinum/palladium printing. The price is reasonable--about $5/$3 per 22" x 30" sheet. The paper will be stocked at Bostick and Sullivan, Talas, and other art supply stores.

 

[Barry S]

Shipments of Revere Platinum have just arrived in the US. I have some arriving tomorrow in both weights and will try making a few palladium prints tomorrow evening. I've got high hopes for this paper for a variety of alt processes.

 

[Barry S]

I made some palladium prints tonight using 300gsm Revere Platinum and had excellent results. The paper has a thick premium feel, and it coats almost as easily as COT 320. I coated using a Richeson 9010 brush (no tween), used a hairdyer on cool to dry, and humidified for 20-30 seconds before printing. The paper coated very evenly and was a pleasure to work with through the developing, clearing and wash steps. The dmax looks a little higher than COT 320 and the paper has a subtle surface sheen. The prints are still too damp for me to scan, but I'll post an image soon. Overall, this is a high quality paper--similar to COT 320, but at half the price. I also did one quick VDB test print, but the exposure was off, so I've got more testing to do.

 

[Barry S]

Lock #7
Palladium Print
Revere Platinum
8x10 Arista EDU Ultra at EI50
Pyrocat 1:1:100
Kodak 305mm Portrait lens @ f/5.6

 

[mhanc]

Thanks for the heads up on this paper and for sharing your results. From the print it does look like a quite good paper.

 

[Brickbird]

I too purchased 20 sheets of the 300 gsm 22"x30" yesterday. I'll cut it down to 15x22 for my 12x20 and look forward to some kind of replacement for Crane's 90# cover. I have quite a few sheets of the older Crane's left from years ago and it has not been a problem and not exhibited any of the negative feedback from those using newer stocked Cranes. The Revere shipped to me was $118 for a net of 40 sheets. At $3.00 a pop, if it as good as reported, I'm in. I'll know next week. It was purchased from Talas in Brooklyn. Ask for Christine. She was superb to talk with and a great help.

tw

 

[Barry S]

I think you'll be very happy with the Revere. It does have a prominent watermark (but not as bad as Fabriano Artistico), but overmatting may hide most of it. The paper is also very economical with emulsion volume. I'll be doing some more printing this weekend and testing the 145 gsm version.

 

[Barry S]

I did some Cyanotype test prints on Revere Platinum and was very pleased with the results. Double coating traditional cyanotype produces an excellent dmax (1.44) and good contrast.

 

[NedL]

According to the Bostick and Sullivan website, the Cartier Magnani paper mill has closed. It was founded in 1404, over 600 years ago.

I have a packet with 10 or 15 sheets of revere platinum that I was just about to cut up and begin experimenting with.... I went to the B&S site to check the price again and think about ordering more if I like how it works. Now I'll just put it away for "special purpose" use only. This was one of two papers I was testing to become my everyday printing paper. I don't even know if I like it yet and already it is not available anymore... a sinking and depressing feeling to hear this.

Edit: sorry, I guess this is old news, I just didn't know.

 

[Barry S]

It's a sad commentary on what the world values these days. Six centuries and we couldn't support something unique and beautiful. When history looks back on our age, I don't think it will be kind.

 

[pdeeh]

I couldn't agree more that it is a shame, a terrible shame in fact, but I also find it a bit hard to blame "what the world values today".

The world changes, demand for products change, and really I find it more amazing that any hand made paper manufacturers survived the industrialisation of the industry in the 19th Century and that some continue in manufacture.

I've got a boxful of dry plates from the 20s and 30s, of all sorts of sizes and speeds and purpose that I was given - I'm not sure it's a reflection on a lack of valuing them that none of them are still made. They've simply been replaced by roll and sheet film.

But perhaps some would disagree.

Coincidentally I was talking to a hand-made paper maker last week, and he was saying that times are really hard for paper - his own business is struggling despite producing a very fine product at a very competitive price for what it is. He and his partner can only find enough demand to give them far less than full week's work, and they are struggling to make ends meet.

He also told me it's not only the craft end of the paper business - apparently one of the largest remaining commercial mills in the UK closed very recently.

Fortunately some of the larger craft mills seem to be doing OK - St. Cuthberts Mill for instance.

 

[pschwart]

I can't confirm this, but I can say that many users experienced significant problems with Revere Platinum. The sizing was particularly problematical and prints would often show pronounced mottling and other defects. I purchased sheets from a few different sources (presumably different runs) and all were different. Later runs were much brighter white and had less pronounced texture which was an improvement. The Talas web site says:

"Due to the quality of the previous run Revere Platinum we were forced to discontinue its sale."

The mill knew about these issues but didn't respond effectively. I'm not happy to see any mills close or papers discontinued, but if this paper didn't sell well, I know why.

 

[NedL]

Thanks for those comments, I'll plan to use a little extra gelatin when I do use it. I bought it to try with salt prints, which might possibly less demanding than platinum ( I don't know )
What I do know is that every paper I've tried looks different, and it is a big factor...

 

[pschwart]

In my experience, a lot of gelatin-sized papers exhibit mottling after being thoroughly soaked because the paper absorbs water unevenly. Sometimes the mottling disappears when the paper dries, and just as often it doesn't. I avoid these papers but additional sizing can help. I tried Revere Platinum for palladium, kallitype, salt, carbon, and vandyke. The paper had potential and it was priced right, but I finally decided the paper was too unreliable. It's hard to beat Platine, COT320, and Artistico for quality.

 

[NedL]

In my experience, a lot of gelatin-sized papers exhibit mottling after being thoroughly soaked because the paper absorbs water unevenly. Sometimes the mottling disappears when the paper dries, and just as often it doesn't. I avoid these papers but additional sizing can help. I tried Revere Platinum for palladium, kallitype, salt, carbon, and vandyke. The paper had potential and it was priced right, but I finally decided the paper was too unreliable. It's hard to beat Platine, COT320, and Artistico for quality.

Thank you, that is really helpful. The past couple days I've been looking around at different paper sources and trying to decide what to order next. In a print exchange, I recently received a print made on Fabriano Artistico EW HP, and it looks beautiful... so I was already planning to try that paper in white and extra white. I'll add the COT320 and Arches Platine to try those as well. I already know that I like Lanaquarelle, but would like to see what some other papers look like.

I finally got it through my head that small price differences in paper are not worth paying attention to. The entire process from negative to print is long and takes a lot of effort. Even the most expensive papers end up only about $2 at the size I print, and they can be cut smaller to learn how they respond to all the different variables. So the important thing is to find one I like that will remain available, or buy enough that I don't need to worry about future availability.

 

[pschwart]

I think Lana is one of those papers that mottled for me so I haven't used it in a long time. Artistico sizing is something like Aquapel and it is absolutely trouble-free. Artistico is a bargain, and it works for a lot of processes though you will have to acidify for iron-based ones. You might want to try Stonehenge, too which is 100% cotton for only about $2 USD per 20x30. It is also buffered so you will have to acid soak.

 

[NedL]

Yesterday I ordered more Lana, plus some COT320 and some platine to try out.

My local art store carries Fabriano, so I thought I'd go see what they have before ordering online. Maybe I'll see something completely different to try when I'm there! I'm going to skip the stonehenge for now, since I'd like to find something that does not need acidification.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

It's hard to beat Platine, COT320, and Artistico for quality.

I tried Arches Platine last month for the first time for kallitype printing and it's the cat's meow. Tried some for carbon transfer printing (sized with acrylic medium) and I'm hooked. Beautiful paper. Bloody expensive up here though at $10 a sheet.