Re: Sumi Ink Problem: Update

Eric,

I have not been able to open your image, because the Javascript code
involved does not work well under Firefox, which is the browser that I use.

But, without having seen it, the effect you describe looks like it
is the same as described by Richard Farber in his "Historic
photographic processes" book.

Speaking of Sumi ink he observes "Note that if the amount of sumi
ink is increased to 12%-14% (12-14ml per 100ml) of the gelatin
solution, the result can be uniquely beautiful with rich blacks and a
fine- to medium-grained effect that's quite striking."

The proportion that you use is lower, but it seems that you have
managed to achieve the same effect. I would try with less, not more, ink.

Tom Sobota
Madrid, Spain

At 07:15 28/12/2005, you wrote:
>Hello -
>
>I switched back to india ink last night. Tonight I printed and the
>resultant image was sharp and grain free. I did notice that with
>india ink, the hot water bath was black with dissolving pigment/
>gelatin, but with sumi ink, the water only had a slight tint to it.
>I used the same amount of ink in both cases. Perhaps I need to use
>more sumi ink, which is strange, since I'm using the same percentage
>that everyone else seems to be using. I searched the archives, and I
>see that J. Wade Allen had the same problem some time ago. It was
>suspected that the brand of ink he was using was the culprit.
>However, I'm using the stuff that comes in the green bottle from
>Daniel Smith, which seems to be what everyone else uses. I'll be
>sticking with india ink for now.
>
>Eric.
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Received on Thu Dec 29 06:26:38 2005