Adams, Ansel GEH 1972:0065:0018

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XRF analysis for AIPAD photographs (2009)
ID number, collection	1972:0065:0018, GEH
Title, author	Side of Barn, Ansel Adams
Date	1962
Photographic process	Gelatin silver print
Description	Image	Neutral black image tone (slightly purplish), no pure whites, excellent condition.
	Support	Primary	Fiber based, white tint , 30.7 x 38.6 cm.
	Support	Secondary	Thick board, equivalent to 8-ply in thickness. The print is flush mounted to the board, 30.7 x 38.6 cm.
Instrument	Handheld TRACeR III-V Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF)
XRF settings	40 kV, 8 µA, 6mil Cu_1mil Ti_12mil Al filter, no vacuum, 300s
Objective	1-Obtain XRF analysis as part of the documentation/characterization of the prints presented at Aipad 2009. 2-Confirm process identification. 3-Look for toning agents. 4-Look for information that can be used to characterize prints from certain periods/certain authors through XRF analysis.
Expected results	Image: Ag, possibly Se. Primary support: Ba, Sr; from baryta layer. Secondary support:?
Instrument Operators	Caroline Barcella, Alejandra Mendoza
Data Analysis performed by	Caroline Barcella, Alejandra Mendoza, Bruce Kaiser. March 2009

Examination Area

Examination area: 3.5 x 4.5 mm

Spectrum

1- Dmax – darkest shadow area in bottom right quarter. Silver and selenium are clearly visible in the spectrum and constitute the image material of the print. Elements from the baryta layer (barium and strontium) are also present. No other elements from the primary or secondary support are noticeable.

2- Dmin – white border in the bottom right area. Silver and selenium are present in small quantities in the highlights (which are not totally white). Elements from the baryta layer (barium and strontium) are also present. No other elements from the primary or secondary support are noticeable.

3- Substraction spetrum: Dmax – Dmin = image material. The image material is composed of silver and selenium. As expected, selenium was used as a toning agent.

4- Secondary support (from verso W15) – center. Iron and lead are present in the secondary support (and were not detectable in the readings made from the recto of the print). Silver, selenium, barium and strontium are present from the image material and primary support (although the signal is not as clear as the readings from the recto, particularly the selenium pick).

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