Digital BW, The Print

I did my first experiments tonight with coating BW prints, using 
Paul Roark's recommended fluid, and a Mayer Rod 
recommended by Robert Morrison.

I think I got a much-too-small rod, (which is always my issue). I 
got a 1/4", and Paul later told me 1/2" is better. It's a very tightly 
wound rod; the coating seeps in between the grooves 
(somehow), and gets distributed on the print. 

I got an Epson brand Turkey Baster from Walgreens and 
squirted one baster-full of coater along the top of the print, then 
drug/rolled the rod over it, down the full length of the print. I 
guess I did OK; first look is not too promising, but I won't judge it 
til tomorrow when it's dry.

Nice that it's water based, so no smell. It seems to dry VERY 
fast, and feels like SuperGlue on your fingers, (except they're not 
stuck together). You need to wash off the rod very quickly, or else 
it'll look like my picture below:

http://www.marktucker.com/epson/2.jpg
http://www.marktucker.com/epson/1.jpg

JPG 1 is the whole kit; the baster, the liquid coater, and the 24" 
rod. 

I will order another one on Monday, 1/2" or even thicker. It 
seemed to work best on ESFA, which is 425 in sheets. The 308 
PhotoRag seemed to buckle up and curl once it got wet, and 
almost immediately; not a good sign. Another reason to go back 
to ESFA 425gsm sheets, my all-time favorite paper.

This is definitely gonna take some practice. It will certainly be 
nice though, to know that I'm gonna get 2.14 DMAX out of 
Ultrachrome blacks with MatteK.

More later, once I get it under control.

-Mark Tucker, Rank Amateur