Digital BW, The Print

Carolyn,
I would like to try the Arches paper you use. A dealer on the web 
offers cold press, hot press and Rough. Which do you use for B&W 
printing?
Donald


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Carolyn Frayn 
<cafrayn@y...> wrote:
> Sorry Clayton for the late response, been away from the list for a  
> bit.. floods are time consuming. :)
> 
> On 27-Jun-05, at 11:16 PM, Clayton Jones wrote:
> >
> >
> >> carolyn frayn wrote:
> 
> >> I print a lot of images on plain old arches watercolor paper,
> >> have for years.. black and white, tones, color... I love it..
> >>
> >
> > Huh, whadya know...you are full of surprises.  But now that I 
think
> > about it, having seen some of your creative work, it's not 
surprising.
> 
> <G>
> 
> >
> >
> >> ..printed to arches, and then ironed bees wax into them.
> >>
> >
> > How did you do this, and can you describe the result?
> 
> I use the same stuff I use on my antiques, it's a pure beeswax and  
> carnuba blend that I spread on parchment paper, then flip over 
onto  
> my prints, and iron.. it gives the work a sheen, a patina, but 
isn't  
> always perfect .. which I like. I've just started with encaustics,  
> but that's more of a post layering approach where the wax is part 
of  
> the image, not just a coating.
> 
> 
> >
> >
> >
> >> Sort of fear saying I use this paper on this list...
> >>
> >
> > Well, you shouldn't have to fear that.  I wish you would post more
> > often because you have such a broad range of experience and your
> > contributions are always worthwhile.  Lots of people read this 
forum
> > and I'm sure many would benefit from what you have to share.
> 
> thanks for that.. but I think some of my work is wonky compared to  
> what I read most here are doing. I have no traditional background,  
> nor wish to emulate previous processes. :)
> 
> 
> >
> >
> > As for Arches paper, this print is the closest thing to a platinum
> > look that I've made.  It is way beyond what I expected.  I have 
two
> > books containing what are supposed to be faithful reproductions of
> > platinum prints, by Stieglitz and Laura Gilpin (one of my favorite
> > photogs, BTW), and this print bears a strong resemblance to 
those.  It
> > would be nice if others would try it and report their results 
here.
> > And especially if other Eboni/BO users would try it.  Eboni's
> > beautiful tones and BO's luminance are what really make this print
> > sing.
> 
> That's what I thought when I saw some platinums, and salt prints, 
in  
> Barcelona. Two were Stieglitz. I was blown away that some of my 
work  
> had the same 'feel', warmth and seeming sensitivity. I'm referring 
to  
> the output of course. The paper those prints were on was 
beautiful,  
> non white, textured, and of course matte :)
> 
> Actually Tyler got me going with Arches watercolor years back when 
I  
> was attempting to output a softer image that didn't do well with  
> coated inkjet paper, I was using dyes with it. I've gone on to 
quad  
> pig's, UC's,  transfers, and paints, incorporating the inkjet 
prints  
> on that paper. But some of my favorites are still quad BW to Arches.
> 
> 
> 
> >
> >
> >> If someone wants the ultimate dmax, that's cool.. doesn't
> >> mean that it's the be all and end all for everyone's tastes or
> >> work... nor the definition of the 'proper' black and white print.
> >>
> >
> > Yes, dmax is important to have when you want it, but it isn't the 
only
> > thing that matters.  I was at the library today reading the
> > introduction in a biography of Walker Evans, and how his approach 
was
> > the polar opposite of the "art" approach.  It was a good reminder 
that
> > there are so many ways to do BW.
> 
> as with all things :)
> 
> Best,
> Carolyn