For those who want something different in their prints

[johnastovall]

Look at Unblinking Eye and consider going back to traditional ways.

[venchka]

Since meeting Richard Sullivan I have been harboring a desire to make carbon transfer prints. One of these days it will happen.

http://unblinkingeye.com//Articles/Carbon/carbon.html

I should start simple...

http://unblinkingeye.com/Articles/Ferric/ferric.html

[Joe_Lorenzini]

It's probably easier than printing to my &%^*@#$)* Epson.

[timbertoes]

lol, well, on Saturday I coated some Berrger COT320 and some Kozo Paper with albumen.
Hope to make a few prints later this week, had to order a few more chemicals.
The 2nd edition of Christopher James's book is also a must have.

[venchka]

Yo! Digital folks! You too can make alternative process prints. First you make an enlarged negative on your inkjet printer. Then you make a contact print in the usual manner. Assuming y'all understand "contact print in the usual manner."

There is more to photography than zero and one.

[timbertoes]

Digital Negatives :) I am planning on scanning my 4x5 B&W negatives, then making a digital negative at approx 8x10. This also allows me to set the needed contrast for the best print. ... I hope :)

[RKEnnis]

Yep - there are a WHOLE LOTTA zeros and ones! :)

Originally Posted by venchka

There is more to photography than zero and one.

[venchka]

Originally Posted by RKEnnis

Yep - there are a WHOLE LOTTA zeros and ones! :)

Give it up. There's more than that even.

There is still a HUGE problem with making enlarged digital negatives: Inkjet printers.

The alternative is a 5x7 or larger camera. That's big bucks too.

[timbertoes]

Originally Posted by venchka

There is still a HUGE problem with making enlarged digital negatives: Inkjet printers.

I'm curious about what you know, and in what way ? Admittedly, I have not spent any time reading about any printer specific pitfalls.. and have only done about 4 digital negatives so far.

I was going to make some last night, and got lazy instead.

P.S. my alternative is to get a lens and film holder for my 8x10 bender :) $$$ Ka-Ching!

[venchka]

I don't like inkjet printers. If you figure out how to make decent 8x10 negatives on an inkjet printer, please teach me how to do it.

[Big Dog]

Originally Posted by venchka

I don't like inkjet printers. If you figure out how to make decent 8x10 negatives on an inkjet printer, please teach me how to do it.

Actually, Wayne, there are a number of fairly adept practitioners of this method. Down there in Houston: Clay Harmon comes to mind.

I'm not a participant, myself. I still would rather enlarge a negative with an enlarger, rather than enlarge the negative to make a contact print. I've spent 40 years getting to a level of expertise at enlarging, and learning contact printing in an "alternative' process" is not that appealing. Like the late Molly Ivins would say: ya gotta dance with who brung ya!

[timbertoes]

Originally Posted by venchka

I don't like inkjet printers. If you figure out how to make decent 8x10 negatives on an inkjet printer, please teach me how to do it.

I just use some info I found on the net. I dont really know how to tell a good negative from a great negative. hopefully I can tell a bad on from a good one though. hehe. I guess it takes many years of experience, and that I dont have.

[venchka]

I hear you David. Makes sense to me.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by venchka

Since meeting Richard Sullivan I have been harboring a desire to make carbon transfer prints. One of these days it will happen.

http://unblinkingeye.com//Articles/Carbon/carbon.html

I should start simple...

http://unblinkingeye.com/Articles/Ferric/ferric.html

I have a simuliar desire.

Just before I started Grad school an put my serious photography on hold for a couple of decades, I was starting to make serigraphs with Kodalith film and 4 to 6 hand made screens. It could produce some vivid image in the vein of Warhol's Monroe series.

Stephen Livick's gum chromate prints and an inspiration that I might go that again.

[Steelsun]

Something I did a few times on an old printer.

Reverse the photo (i.e. flip, not invert) on the computer, over saturate, print it out on Transparency film, but have the printer set to paper (not transparency, so it puts a thick layer of ink). works best if you have a fast printer.

Take a sheet of watercolour paper larger than the trans, spray it with water with an atomizer or spray bottle (you want a misting on it).

Place the paper, wet side down, on the transparency. Press them together with a book or something.
Wait a few minutes then carefully peel them apart. (If you wait to long they may stick together - you'll have to experiment for your particular trans/paper/ink combo)

Voila, a transfer processed artwork, semi-watercolour style made from a digital image.