Hahnemuhle for Cyanotypes

[koraks]

Maybe I'll try the double coating route again and see if that works for me too, although it's hard to see how it would make an improvement over my current workflow. Nevertheless, it's always good to know what more options are out there.

[JPJackson]

Dr. Ware wrote that double coating did not seem to improve the "new" cyanotype. Use enough sensitizer for a good first coat - about six passes with a coating rod.

[Pete Oakley]

JP this is not the "new" Cyanotype process. I do know that Gandolfi doesn't double coat either but this method works for me and gives me the colour that I like.
Pete.

[ChrisSeiberling]

I just tested Hahnemuhle Platinum Rag with 'new' cyanotype and, compared with Arches Aquarelle, found that (1) contrast was really poor and (2) exposure times were almost double. But HPR is easy to sensitize uniformly, so I don't want to give up yet. Any ideas?

[Andrew O'Neill]

Yes, the exposure time is quite long, but I'm getting excellent contrast.

[ChrisSeiberling]

OK, Andrew, thanks for your response... you're doing something right (and I'm doing something wrong). First... we're both using Hahnemüle Platinum Rag, right? An exposure that produces DMAX has completely degraded (fogged) highlights. I'm using Mike Ware's 'new' cyanotype formula with 2% citric acid, exposed with UVA fluorescents, relative humidity of 36%. Any suggestions? For comparison, Arches Aquarelle under same conditions does not suffer the degraded highlights.

[Astralark]

I tried new Cyanotype with HPR, it gives excellent result. I don't think I need to improve it because I am really satisfied with the result.

[JPJackson]

OK, Andrew, thanks for your response... you're doing something right (and I'm doing something wrong). First... we're both using Hahnemüle Platinum Rag, right? An exposure that produces DMAX has completely degraded (fogged) highlights. I'm using Mike Ware's 'new' cyanotype formula with 2% citric acid, exposed with UVA fluorescents, relative humidity of 36%. Any suggestions? For comparison, Arches Aquarelle under same conditions does not suffer the degraded highlights.

You might try to humidify the paper prior to coating. 36% RH is pretty dry.