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PLATINUM PALLADIUM PRINTING Mixing and coating emulsions: The chemicals used to make your Platinum/Palladium print come pre-‐mixed. You will use a combination of 4 solutions to make your emulsion: Sensitizer #1 (1), Sensitizer #2(2), Platinum #3(Pt), and Palladium #4(Pd). These solutions are measured in drops using a specific TOTAL number of drops for a given print size with a slightly higher number of drops of metals (Pt and Pd) than sensitizers (1and 2). For certain papers 1 drop of End Run will be added to the mixture. Contrast can be controlled by adjusting the ratio of 1 and 2 within the overall total number of drops: more 1 and less 2 DECREASES contrast and more 2 and less 1 INCREASES contrast. Be aware that increasing the ratio of 2 will result in a “slower” emulsion (longer exposure time) AND using too much 2 in your emulsion can result in a “grainy” appearance. When mixing your emulsion, use a combination of platinum and palladium to take advantage of palladium’s “speed” and platinum’s “depth.” Your metal ratio should be a MAJORITY of palladium with a touch of platinum. PLEASE CONSERVE PLATINUM. Excessive use of platinum is wasteful and increasing its amount in your emulsion will result in a “slower” emulsion (longer exposure time). Please refer to the Drop Chart below for suggested emulsion mixtures. Pour you emulsion mixture onto your paper and quickly spread the liquid around with a hake brush, synthetic sable brush, or puddle pusher. Let your coated paper air dry or dry it with a hair dryer, put in a contact printer with your negative and expose. Development, clearing, and washing prints: There are a variety of developers and clearing agents that can be used for making Platinum/Palladium prints. We will be using Ammonium Citrate as our developer and EDTA as our clearing bath. Developer is pre-‐mixed and is used straight. Clearing bath is 1 TBS of EDTA per quart of water. After coating and exposure your “print” is very vulnerable. Any water or other substance that comes into contact with your emulsion will dissolve that area, resulting in a blotchy print.
1. Place exposed “print” in clean, dry tray. Quickly and evenly pour developer over print – development is complete after 20 seconds or so. After development, carefully pour developer back into its pitcher
2. Prints are to be cleared by pouring clearing bath into the tray over the print.
Prints are to be cleared in 3 successive baths of clearing agent – 5 minutes each.
3. Wash prints for 15 minutes and lay on screen to dry. ** ** If you are using Canson Vidalon Vellum or Bienfang 360 you should set up your own wash tray and monitor the print as it washes. These papers are very delicate and can get crumple, ripped, or creased in the wash if left unattended. Also, these papers tend to curl when they dry. If they don’t want to flatten out properly, gently steam them until they soften slightly and place them between two books, taking care not to mar the print surface. FYI: the kits used in the class come from Bostick and Sullivan (bostick-‐sullivan.com). They include the 2 sensitizing liquids (1 and 2), the two metals (Pt 3 and Pd 4), developer, and clearing agent. Currently, they cost $209 and should make roughly 35 8x10 prints.
Platinum Palladium Printing Drop Chart You may use the following chart to determine your emulsion mixtures for making platinum palladium prints. Keep in mind that these are suggested starting points and that your actual mixtures may vary. Standard sizes are listed first (followed by square inches for that size – different print dimensions may cover a similar area and can help determine mixtures), followed by other somewhat common sizes. You are encouraged to add your own mixes and sizes. Adding one drop of End Run to your emulsion mixture will help it spread more evenly on heavier papers (Bergger COT 320, Lana Aquarelle, Arches Platine). If you want to use Rives BFK add 1 drop of End Run and a couple of drops of distilled water (roughly 15% of the total emulsion – about 3 drops for a 5x7). Hake Brush Synthetic Brush/Puddle Pusher
Print size (sq. inches)
1 2 3(Pt) 4 (Pd) : Total
1 2 3(Pt) 4 (Pd) : Total
4x5 (20)
7 0 2 6 : 15
6 0 2 5 : 13
5x7 (35)
12 0 3 11 : 26
10 0 3 9 : 22
8x10 (80)
20 0 4 18 : 42
18 0 4 16 : 38
4x6 (24)
8 0 2 7 : 17
7 0 2 6 : 15
5.5x8 (44)
15 0 3 13 : 31
13 0 3 11 : 27
6x9 (54)
16 0 3 15 : 34
14 0 3 13 : 30