Sunday, May 8, 2011

06. Van Dyke

Introduction:
Van Dyke Print: based on the first iron-silver process, the argentotype, invented in 1842 by Sir John Herschel.  Both processes use light action on ferric salts.  The process gets its name from the similarity in color to brown pigment used by the Flemish painter Van Dyck. Image color and contrast can be dependent on paper type


Sandstone, Jamie Young

Process:
1. We used 100% rag paper for printing.
2. The paper was coated with one coat of the Van Dyke solution and then dried with a hair drier.
3. After dried, the paper and was put into a printing frame with the negative facing outward.
4. Our exposure time was about five minutes.
5. The prints were then put in a fresh water wash for five minutes and then two hypo solutions.
6. The last water wash was forty minutes long under running water.

Van Dyke Recipe: 
Solution A: 
     Ferric Ammonium Citrate: 9.0 gm
     Distilled Water: 33.0 ml
Solution B:
     Tartaric Acid: 1.5 gm
     Distilled Water: 33.0 ml
Solution C:
     Silver Nitrate: 3.8 gm
     Distilled Water: 33.0 ml

Combine Solutions A and B and slowly add C while stirring.  The solution should be put into a dark container and aged for a few days.


Experience:
I created two prints in lab.  The first print turned out well.  There was an even coating on the paper but some brush marks showed up in the image.  There is detail in the darkest of the darks and highlights.  The image is a little under exposed and could have standed to be out in the sun for another two minutes.  The second print I made was a better exposure and had good detail.  There are brush marks visible in this one too.  There is also some sort of speckling happening either from abrasion or the paper soaking up the solution differently.





First Van Dyke print

Second Van Dyke

Summary:
I still am not happy with my print quality.  Although the papers are evenly coating the brush marks are not desirable.  I am getting the hang of exposure time though.  Hopefully, the perfect print is near!!  I found the Van Dyke process to be the simplest and quickest of all of the processes this quarter.  The brown color is pleasant and it only takes one coat.  The detail quality is high but the matte image is something I don't like too much.  This would have to be my favorite and most successful process so far.

Links:
http://www.alternativephotography.com/wp/processes/kallitypes/vandyke-notes
http://www.flickr.com/groups/1409567@N23/
http://www.behance.net/gallery/Alternative-Process-Cyanotype-Van-Dyke-Salt-Prints/873736

Images:

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