Have been printing Platinum/Palladium prints on and off for past probably 5 years. I have been auditing Alternative Photo Process classes at out local Art School. First time to learn the process and next times was able to prefect my technique. Last class I made digital negatives at home and printed at the school. Followed Dan Burkholder's method in his book The New Inkjet Negative Companion. Always place his calibrated digital step tablet next to the image. Majority of times the first print I make is a keeper, otherwise by reading the step tablet second print is a keeper. Studied Photographic Sensitometry under the late Hollis Todd and Thomas Hill, loved it, excelled in it, and eventually taught it on the University level.
Come the present day. Decided to build a darkroom 2 years ago, Started using it one year ago for traditional B&W negatives and prints and Chemigrams (acquired a stash of boxes of very outdated paper). Now want to use the darkroom to print Platinum/Palladium here at home. Here are my plans and would appreciate any comments from others who print Platinum/Palladium.
Intend on purchasing chemistry and paper from Bostick & Sullivan. Have dealt with them in the past and no reason to go elsewhere. Or is there someone else to consider?
UV Light source: One from Edwards Engineered Products. Their 18x20" with built in Vacuum Frame. Like the metal fabrication of the one Freestyle offers, but prefer the built in vacuum frame from EEP. Anybody have any experiences with EEP?
Paper dryer: Bought an Excalibur Food Dehydration unit. Has 9 14x14" drying screens. Will be easily fabricating an exhaust duct to the outside. Very adequate for making a few Whole Plate or 8x10" prints at the same time. I normally batch print 2 to 4 separate prints at the same time. Plan on printing 11x14 prints in the future, but will do those one at a time and will deal with drying the paper at that time.
Print washer: Got a Kostiner Archival Print Washer (vertical plexiglass unit) on EBay for opening bid... Guess there are not many buyers out there.
Print viewing station: Am very seriously considering a light balanced viewing station. Viewed some prints under florescent bulb light fixtures and in the Gallery looked a little bit like crap.
Mounting supplies: LODIMA (Michael Smith & Paula Chamiee). Will be ordering batches of pre-cut mat board for Whole Plate, 8x10, and 11x14 prints. Mat size their option. Also locally have Contemporary Framing to also order batches of frames. Am taking down a present show that I had to put everything together over Christmas holidays.. wanted to have the show up in the fall of 2016 but was assigned a January 8th opening show slot. Show was hung up in time but not without many last minute headaches... never again. LODIMA's mat board is a little too "bright" white for my taste, but my favorite board - Light Impressions Conservation board no longer available... little like when I found out that Bergger 200 film was no longer available... that's life.
Coating paper with glass rods... I know brush marks look so much better, but they abide behind the mat opening as does the step tablet. Foam brushes I find plain offensive to the traditional process.
Greg
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