Silver B&W vs Kallitype & Platinum Sharpness

[menglert]

Hello,

Why is it that contact prints on silver B&W papers are sharper than contact prints from Kallitypes or Platinum?

-Martin

[Joe Lipka]

Look at the paper surface. Silver gelatin prints have a smoother surface than the uncoated paper surface of paper typically used for alternative processes. The silver gelatin image is also in the gelatin emulsion not on the surface of a textured paper.

[menglert]

Look at the paper surface. Silver gelatin prints have a smoother surface than the uncoated paper surface of paper typically used for alternative processes. The silver gelatin image is also in the gelatin emulsion not on the surface of a textured paper.

Thanks Joe... So my next question is, is there a smoother paper surface I could be using, something similar to that used with silver gelatin?

I know there was some baryta paper sold at the Formulary, but is there any other hot pressed water color papers that may come close?

Finally, is it possible I could make a gelatin emulsion for Kallitypes, then coat that on a smoother paper to increase sharpness?

-Martin

[ann]

something that can effect the sharpness of the finish product; film developer that was used.

This is my personal experience and i am sure others who have more specific knowedge of chemistry can chime in with specifics.

i ran a series of test with a friend of mine. we took 4 images and made 8 shots each and then developed half in one developer, half in the other; including a -N, N, N+1 and then N+2 times.

the negatives developed in pryocat hd and used to make both van dyke brown prints and palladium prints were signficantly sharper with every paper tested.