Re: Pinhole gum bichromates

Thanks,
My best results for gum prints have been using digital negs. On the scanning
end, a Pro Photo CD was typically how we would aquire good input, but I just
replaced my old Umax scanner with a new Epson Perfection 2450 Photo scanner.
For under $400.00 this thing is a dream. Exelent results with just a little
tweaking. For output I use a Epson Stylus 3000 with Lumijet monochrome inks
printed on Graphix clear 4ml film. It comes in a 24"X100' roll aprox. $100.00
(cheep) from Charrette. We cut the roll to make are own custom sheet sizes.
The curve is very compressed on the low end of the scale, (due to the
sensitivity range of the dichromate)and loaded as a transfer function in the
page set up when printing from PhotoShop. This imediacy has allowed us the
ability to fine tune our negs with relative ease at a reasonable cost. Any
one interested in enlarged digital negs should check out <A
HREF="http://www.danburkholder.com/">Dan Burkholder: Photographer, Artist and
Platin…</A> his book about digital negs is the most comprehensive I've seen.
I don't like fluorecent UV exposure units for gum printing. I scavanged a
1000W metal halide bulb and fixture that had the balast wired for 110 for a
grower friend. A point source light improves contrast and exposure times. The
fixture is suspended about 44" above a contact printing frame. I typically
print 3-4 layers of gum/pigment per print. Exposures range from 1:30 min. to
6 min. depending on weather I'm printing high light, mid tones, or shadows.
The fine tuning of each layer has so many variables: amount of watercolor
pigment, color of pigment ratio of gum to dichromate, exposure, water temp.
for processing, and many more. Learning to print gum dichromates can drive
anyone insane. The frustration factor is unbelievable. But when it starts to
work for you, your hooked forever.
For more insperation check out <A HREF="http://www.jgiudicelli.com/">
JACQUELINE & JEAN-LOUIS GIUDICELLI</A> , pure heaven.

As a closing note: I think using digital image processing used in combination
with traditional Alt. Processes can only revive, expand, and reinvent the
boundrys that creative people pursue everyday.

Let the light filter thru,
Jeff Atkins

<These images are very, very beautiful.
<Gum (most alternative processes) are a natural for film pinhole.
<But you have enlarged the negatives.
<Would you share with us which negative enlarging process you used?
<Thank you.
<leezy
Received on Fri Jul 5 20:32:18 2002