Hi,

I am an architecture student in Auckland, New Zealand and wish to contact-print drawings (on permatrace) onto large cyanotype papers ...

I am finding it hard to find the chemicals required:

(green ferric ammonium citrate/ potassium ferricyanide)

Are there any Kiwi's or people in the know about where to find these chemicals in ~alt. process amounts ?

Can it be bought over the internet in smaller amounts ?

I am also a photographer and wish to start Pt/Pd contact prints after having a bit of experience with easier techniques like the cyanotype and whatever other processes i can get the chemicals for ...

Any ideas on sourcing -any- chemicals for a recommended process ?

cheers,
nick

Rock Poper

Try artcraft www.artcraftchemicals.com, good to deal with, will ship to NZ as long as not a hazard.

Where in NZ are you? I'm in Wellington.

In AK... - I have found a place that can get me 100Kg of potassium ferricyanide, but that is a minimum order - I just need a piece of paper big enough to soak it all in and permission to turn the hauraki plains into contact printing facility ;) its hard even to get simple things like large thermometers / filter paper / safety gear / glasswear in small quantities - thankfully tho I may have found a way to get it gear through the university - not sure on the chemicals tho (scared i'm going to start a P lab) - do you do much contact/alt. work ? (cheers for the link btw)

Try http://ajaxfinechem.co.nz/ They have their catalog on-line.

they have the ferricyanide which is great (thanks!) but not the citrate...

the other link appears to have both - It also says it has everything require for Pt printing, however I think I remember hearing that you needed a solution of some sort for Pt/Pd ? artcraftchemicals.com will not send liquids internationally :P - perhaps I can get it sent to someone domestic in the states who can then forward it ??

Hmmmm, really need to get a good source here in NZ - I'm sure there are many people either keen to start or who have already found a good supply. Just gotta pool our resourses.

Would be great to start up a NZ only forum or website dedicated to Alt process, not wanting to step into other great websites territory (such as this and alternativephotography.com).. just a 'local' version with info that only Kiwi's would be interested in eg.topics such as this thread.

I know it's not in NZ, but Bostick & Sullivan sell the powder & liquid versions of many of the alternate process chemicals. You might check their site at http://www.bostick-sullivan.com/.

The closest place may be Vanbar (http://www.vanbar.com.au/catalogue/index.php, click on chemistry, then bulk.) here in Melbourne, Aus, which seems to carry a pretty wide range of raw chemistry and in a wide range of quantities. Not sure what's involved in shipping across the Tasman, what with the current hoo-ha about white powder in envelopes over here.

John.