Working humidity and POP Palladium

Hi folks. I'm thinking of trying out the POP Palladium process using the Ziatype kit from B&S, but I'm looking for input as to whether I should just use the traditional DOP process instead in my situation.

I'm in a 2 bedroom apartment, 12th floor, small space -- I use my bathroom for all of my printing and that's been fine for things like VDs ad argyrotypes wit their relatively simple process. Zias are obviously fairly sensitive to humidity and that's turning out to be a pretty big problem for me here in the great white north, even in the middle of summer.

I found a hygrometer in my closet and after keeping it around in my bathroom it keeps bottoming out below its minimum threshold of 20%RH. I can probably run the shower for a while to get the humidty up but this seems like it would be a rather uncomfortable environment, and I doubt I could trap the humidity that long.

Should I call it a wash and go traditional instead or could it be workable in my space, considering the tight quarters? Looking for any tips that may be useful.

(I'll be printing mainly 4x5 as well as some enlarged internegatives from 6x6 using processes that shall not be named here.)

I've tried Ziatype printing and it turned out to be much more temperamental process when compared out to developing out Pd prints. The developing process for DOP Pd/Pt is so simple and foolproof, I don't see any advantages of Ziatype. Ziatype does achieve some different hues, so that may be a draw, but I'm very happy with the color of straight Pd prints. You may need to humidify your paper in any case, but it's easily done with a box or an ultrasonic humidifier.

Hi Jon, I work a lot with the Ziatype and traditional Pt/Pd printing. As Barry S says above the traditional method is extremely simple and I would start with that. You'll find it much more predictable than VDB prints. But Ziatypes can be beautiful. After you get a handle on the develop out process, then you should give the Zia a try. The ammonium ferric oxalate would be the only chemical "wasted" if it didn't work for you. Lithium palladium can be used in the develop out process just the same way as the regular palladium, so it wouldn't go to waste.

I get a lot of humidity here in NY, but in the winter when the central heating is in full swing, it goes down to about 30%. Everything works fine at that humidity. I've come to the conclusion that too much humidity is a bigger problem with image quality. When it goes to 60% in the summer here I dry my paper a bit after coating with low heat. I get smoother prints that way. I think if you closed the door and ran the shower, for a bit, and had a cheap humidifier going you'd be fine. I have what is really just a cold water vaporizer, not an ultrasonic humidifier. It brings the humidity up very quickly, like in ten minutes. But I seldom use it anymore.

Here's how I would start, which is what I did when I first tried the ziatype. I coated a piece of paper and after a 2 minute rest I exposed it right away, with mylar protecting the negative. (If you use the same piece of mylar again, make sure it's clean and dry, so you don't ruin a negative, like I did,) Then I coated another piece and waited 5 minutes and then another, and waited 10 minutes and a fourth for 15 minutes. I found all the tests gave a good image. The one that I let dry for 15 minutes took a bit longer to expose, but it looked good. The one I exposed after 2 minutes was grainy looking. You of course will get different results, but I bet you get a good print. There are lots of Ziatypes in my gallery here, check them out. Best of luck and I'd love to hear how it goes for you.

Doug Schwab
Brooklyn, NY

Thanks Barry, Doug I really do appreciate the feedback. You've helped confirm what I suspected and make my decision. I'm going to hold off on the Zias for now and get a handle on the traditional PTPD process first. Spent a couple hours browsing both of your galleries too, lots of inspiration in there to get me started. Will definitely post some results here and over at dpug once I start. Thanks!