20x24" pt/pd prints -hands on experience?

[sanking]

Sandy,
won't Ziatypes be good too.
I have been doing 8x20 palladium printing with Na2 and i will throw in a couple of drops of platinium. I use a glass rod because it takes so much less chemicals and I can control it easier.
my formula is:
25 Drops FeOx
22 drops PD
3 Drops Pt
0-7 Drops Na2 (10%)
I guess from that you could figure out something.

michael andersen

Michael,

Yes, Ziatype is an interesting process but still a lot more expensive in terms of the metal salts than a palladium or platinum toned kallitype, especially if you take into consideration the fact that you only use the pt.pd. toner on keeper prints. Also, although I have not done any serious cost comparison of Ziatype versus regular DOP palladium I believe that both are rougly equivalent in expense since the main expense involved in both is the palladium salt.

In making 20X24 prints by any of the metal salt processes I have personally found that it is better to apply a fairly heavy coating rather than skimp. I coat 20X24 prints with a 4" Richeson brush and put on a total of 10-12 ml of solution. With this much coating solution you have to brush a bit longer to get rid of pooling but this does not have any negative effect with papers with a good size. I personally have had very poor results coating large prints witha glass rod and find the Richeson much more effective.

Sandy King

[RobertP]

I agree, I use a 3" Richeson for 8x20 and 12x20. I tried the puddle pusher one time and immediately went to the brush. Just remember to wet the brush and squeegee to a fine point before you use it. This will help keep you from losing solution that would be absorbed by a dry brush.