gelatin – Fall River Editions

Here are some images of my first exposure tests. This is 8% gelatin with 20mL isopropyl alcohol and 5mL of 1% alum. Poured at 0.035″ using magnetic strips as a dam. Gelatin was leveled with a heated 5/8″ rod.
Sensitized with 4% ammonium dichromate 1:1 with isopropyl alcohol (2% total) at 7mL total or 0.125mL/sq in. This amount seemed excessive for only a single coating.
There appears to be good detail at the 15 min exposure, but I will retest tomorrow with a more detailed negative at 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 min.

Exposure times 5-30 minutes:

Here is a closeup of the relief after soaking 30 min in clearing bath:

And here is the same image done in palladium on COT 320 paper using the exact same negative:

I have decided to begin oil printing with Fabriano Artistico Hot Press paper of 300 gsm weight. First, I begin by stretching the paper by soaking it at room temperature for five minutes. I found this large 28″ x 30″ tray at Lowes hardware store. it is intended as an appliance drip pan and was only $28.

After soaking, I fasten the sheet to a stretching frame I built from hardware store materials.

When dry, I add a sizing to the paper by brushing on two coats of Liquitex Fluid Matte Medium diluted 1:1 with distilled water.

The following day, I coated the papers with an 8% solution of gelatin. The mix includes:

80gm gelatin (250 bloom)

20mL isopropyl alcohol

5mL of a 1% solution of chrome alum

distilled water to make 1 liter

I coat the mixture onto the paper as follows:

Soak paper in room temperature water.

Squeegee wet paper onto sheets of pre-leveled plate glass and galvanized sheet metal on top.

Lay a framework of 0.035″ magnetic vinyl strips just inside the edge of the paper.

Pour the gelatin mix, heated to 110F, over the paper and spread with a heated stainless steel rod.

Remove the magnetic strips, squeegee off a 1/2″ strip of gelatin on both short sides, and hang to dry.

Tag: gelatin

First exposure tests

First papers