Chromograph process study

[tooth]

I’ve never done an ink chromograph before, but decided it was time I learn the process. No doubt this is all old information for the pros that hang around here, but just in case someone else like me didn’t know, here’s what I learned. Disclaimer: I have NO scientific background.

Liquid Medium: I read that water is the most common, but isopropyl alcohol is even better. One blogger suggested part water part isopropyl was in fact the best. I used coffee filters as the paper medium for all three of these:


Diamine Aurora Borealis

This is going to shock some people, but I am starting to think not everything you read on the internet is true 😊. You can see from these samples the more isopropyl the less separation of color occurred. You could make the case the isopropyl keeps the spectrum together better, but without a lot of magnification I found it hard to break down the colors from the isopropyl trial.

Paper Medium: Once again conflicting recommendations abound. Lots of folks do their test on a damp paper towel. Some say a cone coffee filter (which is much thicker than a basket filter) is the perfect density. Others say you only get true results with scientific grade filter medium. So, for this test I used all three – coffee filter, 8-10 microns pure cellulose scientific filter paper, and a paper towel:


Krishna Sea & Storm

To one degree or another I feel like all three did about the same job of pulling and displaying the underlining ink colors. But to my eye, the refined texture of the scientific filter paper makes the coloration stay together better and makes it easier to pick out. The bottom line for me is it all works, and really becomes a matter of personal preference, and what you happen to have around.

Speaking of, so many of you here on the forum have been so helpful to me. I’ve gained an amazing amount of knowledge from your kindness and sharing. So perhaps I can share a little something back. If anyone here would like to try that scientific filter paper, I would be happy to mail you a half sheet (it’s what fits a standard envelope without folding.) It won’t be a huge amount of filter, but you can probably cut a half dozen test strips from it. No charge, no obligation, just PM me your mailing address and I’ll get it on its way to you.