Sistan

[Mahler_one]

As some of us wait for the new Agfa enlarging paper(s), I wonder if any here are using the Agfa archival "wash" called, "Sistain". I never have used the product, and hence I have no first hand experience to recount. However, Sistain is said not to effect the tone of the image. I would be interested to know of any comments from those who have used the product. I have found few comments on a search of APUG ,which leads me to suspect that Sistain is not widely embraced.

Ed

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Search on "sistan" and you'll find more info. I've updated the title.

I use it for film, and I've also used it for RC prints. It's an emulsion preservative that contains a wetting agent, so it may be used in place of PhotoFlo. It should be the final bath after the wash and should not be washed off. It doesn't change the tone of the prints.

I wouldn't use it on fiber based prints, because it's really only suitable for film or prints that are air dried. You wouldn't want to get Sistan on your blotters or drying screens or on the apron of a heat dryer.

 

[trexx]

I use Sistan for all my keeper prints. Steve Anchell's Darkroom Cookbook has it as part of the section on archival process. I think that its lack of use is due to it lack of availability. It can be found from time to time but it has not be consistantly on the shelves. freestylephoto has it. I have little way of telling how effective it is or is not. I have some comparison prints that are about a year old, ask me in another fifty if the sistan held up better. I have not had concerns with using fiber and have seen no ill effects using on fiber.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I don't think it will do anything bad to fiber prints. It just can gum up whatever is used to dry them, and I usually selenium tone fiber prints, so Sistan is unnecessary.

 

[doughowk]

I've occasionally used it on Kallitype prints. As said above, it should be the last step with immersion around 1 minute. Available at Freestyle.

 

[Oren Grad]

I use Sistan for all my keepers, both FB and RC, sometimes following light-to-moderate selenium toning, sometimes by itself.

Sistan is very simple and easy to use, and much less time-, labor- and water-intensive than selenium toning. That makes it an attractive option if you don't care about print color or don't want to change print color but do want to provide some protection for your prints.

Some years back, Ctein published the results of experiments demonstrating that Sistan was effective in retarding the light-catalyzed silvering-out of RC prints displayed under glass.

 

[Philippe-Georges]

ADOSTAB from ADOX is a good alternative for SISTAN, see : http://www.adox.de/english/ADOLUX/ADOLUX/ADOSTAB/page47.html
Adox is an APUG sponsor...

Philippe

 

[Mahler_one]

Thanks to all for the information. Regarding Adostab, is the product available in the US?

Ed

 

[cmo]

All of these products contain potassium thiocyanate, and that means they are not absolutely harmless, take care with that stuff.

http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/p6181.htm

 

[Mahler_one]

Thanks for the reminder! Selenium isn't harmless either I guess.

Ed

 

[naaldvoerder]

I don't think it will do anything bad to fiber prints. It just can gum up whatever is used to dry them, and I usually selenium tone fiber prints, so Sistan is unnecessary.

According to Tim Rudman in his Toning Book Selenium is only protective if toning is taken to completion, along with the accompanying colour-change. In partly selenium-toned prints only the shadows gain some sort of protection, the highlights hardly any. Sistan is probably a better form of protection. See Tim Rudman's toning book for this and a lot more....

Jaap Jan

 

[Photo Engineer]

All of these products contain potassium thiocyanate, and that means they are not absolutely harmless, take care with that stuff.

http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/p6181.htm

That article is typical overreaction.

Potassium Thiocyanate is used in many tooth paste formulations. It reduces gum irritation and tooth sensitivity to heat and cold. Sensodyne in the US is the most prevalent version with KSCN in it.

Yes, a handful is poisonous, but so is a handful of table salt. Yes, it can cause skin irritation, but so can household bleach, soap and - salt water.

PE