2 replies to this topic

[Jon Harwood]

I am returning to contact printing and am starting to work with rollo pyro and HP5. I hope to use the negs to print palladium later this year when the sun light steadies. Meanwhile as I work with this combination I am hoping to proof the negatives on silver paper. Here's the question from a former D-76 and pyrocat user who is trying rollo pyro. Is it approximately true that if I produce a negative that prints well on Ilford Multigrade glossy fiber base paper then is there there is some hope that the negative will print decently in Palladium?

The thing that makes me a bit crazy is the response of VC paper to pyro. I am GUESSING that due to the lower contrast that the stain produces on VC that the negatives should print at about grade 3 on Multigrade in order to render OK in palladium.

While I find traditional palladium printing to be a user friendly method (compared to the demon Gum Bichromate) working up pyro negatives when I don't have access to proofing in palladium makes me a bit crazy.

[pschwart]

Jon Harwood, on 30 April 2012 - 10:56 AM, said:

I am returning to contact printing and am starting to work with rollo pyro and HP5. I hope to use the negs to print palladium later this year when the sun light steadies. Meanwhile as I work with this combination I am hoping to proof the negatives on silver paper. Here's the question from a former D-76 and pyrocat user who is trying rollo pyro. Is it approximately true that if I produce a negative that prints well on Ilford Multigrade glossy fiber base paper then is there there is some hope that the negative will print decently in Palladium?

The thing that makes me a bit crazy is the response of VC paper to pyro. I am GUESSING that due to the lower contrast that the stain produces on VC that the negatives should print at about grade 3 on Multigrade in order to render OK in palladium.

While I find traditional palladium printing to be a user friendly method (compared to the demon Gum Bichromate) working up pyro negatives when I don't have access to proofing in palladium makes me a bit crazy.

I don't see a lot of value in silver proofs if the goal is to create palladium prints. If you build an inexpensive exposure unit you will have a consistent light source for proofing and printing in palladium whenever you like.

[Jon Harwood]

Thanks. That certainly is the correct answer and I will eventually cook up an exposure unit. I am also very clear on the fact that there is no 1:1 comparison of a silver version to a palladium version of of a print. Additionally I get that the only answer to these questions will emerge from my own testing. I still hope to find a rough equivalent to use in proofing (for the present time) although I will listen if experienced users tell me I am barking up the wrong tree.