14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book on an interesting photo printing technique, February 14, 2001
This review is from: The Gum Bichromate Book, Second Edition: Non-Silver Methods for Photographic Printmaking (Paperback)
I've had this book for quite a few years. It's a really good reference and instructional book on how to do gum bichromate printing for black and white negatives.
Normal photographic printing is done on silver bromide paper; the photosensitive silver crystals make the black of the print. In gum bichromate printing, chromate is used in a gum emulsion mixed with colored pigments to harden under light exposure. (I'm trying to stay away from the chemistry here.) After making a negative to use for contact printing, the negative and coated paper are exposed to light. Where light penetrates your negative, the gum-chromate-pigment mixture hardens and stays on the paper. Where not exposed to light, the solution washes away.
This isn't an easy technique, but is a very lovely one, and even more interesting when mixed with other techniques like cyanotype. It's also possible now to use laser printer to produce some of the contact negatives you need.
The only caveat I must add is that chromium compounds are TOXIC. So if you are not experienced at handling chemicals, this technique is NOT for you and your home darkroom. However, if you have experience in good lab technique and know your way around a darkroom, this is a very alluring technique to make some wonderfully, almost hand-colored looking prints. This fits in especially well with the current interest people have in handmade books and journals.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful guide, September 1, 2007
This review is from: The Gum Bichromate Book, Second Edition: Non-Silver Methods for Photographic Printmaking (Paperback)
This book is a wonderful guide to those experienced photographers who are looking for something "new" to try. As mentioned, it is not an exacting process; there's a lot of trial and error involved. It is also important to note that the chemicals (ammonium or potassium dichromate) are dangerous. They can be ordered through The Photographer's Formulary. Mr. Scopick's directions are not overly scientific but will help you on your way to understanding this relatively simple non-silver process. When done correctly, these prints are totally archival.
It is a gorgeous printing process. You won't get the tonal scale of a platinum print, but you can choose any pigment color you want, which is great. You can also do multiple prints of the same neg using different colors for a polychromatic print. It's a fun and rewarding process for anyone rediscovering the Pictoralist look.
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