| Suzanne Izzo |
| Traveling Portfolio - May 2005 Van Dyke, Cyanotype, Toned Cyanotype Comparisons For this portfolio I am sending four pmts of the same image produced using different processes. They are all printed using an enlarged negative on lith film from about half a frame of a 35mm negative. This was probably not an ideal negative to use, but I began using it for another project and stayed with it. # 1 VanDyke print. The formula from "Keepers of Light. " About a minute water rinse; about two minutes in 2.5% hypo. #2 Cyanotype print. Traditional cyanotype formula from "Keepers", A and B in equal proportions and stored mixed together. #3 Split-toned Cyanotype print. Cyanotype print as in #2. Toned with Tannic Acid and Sodium Carbonate. (This is done by eye. About 2 minutes in tannic acid, quick rinse in tray of clear water, into sodium carbonate for 30 seconds to a minute. Back through clear water into tannic acid and repeat until just before you think it is right. The strengths of toning solutions are from an old message by Judy Siegel: 1 teaspoon of tannic acid powder in quart of water and 2 teaspoons of sodium carbonate in quart of water. ) #4 Fully-toned Cyanotype print. As in #3 but toning continued until all blue has turned brown. I always print in direct sun although the days I printed these had haze and clouds. (1 had to finish printing before leaving home. ) My timing of sun prints is pretty casual with a combination of a rough guess and visual inspection. These took longer than I expected. The paper was bought at a copy shop where they sell off paper they no longer use. It was labelled "80# Rose Royal Fiber" and cost $2 for 1008.5 x 11 sheets. I like the slight tone in the highlights produced by the fiber instead of a pure white (at least for this print). It also seems to print well for Cyanotype and Van Dyke (1 haven't tried it with Gum). These are all work prints, but I found the comparisons among them interesting. In one of the earlier portfolios I had some split-toned cyanotypes and this way of toning is what I prefer (usually with more blue left than in the print here). However, I was interested in carrying the toning farther so as to compare a brown cyanotype with a brown Van Dyke (as well as with the split-toned version). The toning aside, probably the most striking difference is in the detail which prints in the VanDyke versus the Cyanotype print. (On the backs, you can also see how much the tannic acid "tones" the paper.) I printed these before I left home the middle of April so that I would have them ready for the portfolio. I'm still away and can't check the figures given above for solutions. If necessary, I will correct them when I get back. I'm eager to see the work in this portfolio and to receive feedback on my submissions. |