Paper question

[mark]

SO, what qualities make a good paper for Pt/Pd? I know there are peprs out there thast plain suck and there are those that set the standard. What is different about them?

I'm just curious.

 

[Mateo]

I'm surprised that more knowledgeable folk ain't replied to this yet. Here's the things that I can think of off the top of my head:

1. PH
2. Sizing
3. Texture
4. Chemistry unrelated to PH

You can change the PH of paper to make it nuetral or acidic and you can size paper to change the way it absorbs solution but some papers just won't work no matter what you do. I've done everything I can think of to make Arches Hot Pressed watercolor paper make a decent print but it won't (I've got a huge stash of it for non photo use is the only reason for beating my head against that wall).

Texture is what it is, some images I think work with the loss of detail that a more textured paper gives. But I think in general most people keep to the smooth ones.

I'm going on my own voodoo experience but I think some papers have something in the sizing or the rag itself that just don't agree with sensitizing solution.

 

[mark]

why would you want it acidic or neutral?

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

It also has to hold up in water.

Mateo--Arches Hot Press is a good paper for Polaroid transfers (Cold Press too for a rougher look).

 

[Jim Noel]

For most of the alternative, hand-coated processes which require UV exposure the following qualities are necessary:

Stand up to long wet time
100% cotton or linen rag
Unbuffered
Neutral to slightly acidic
Internal sizing - some still require additional sizing