This work is a handbook on photography printing with emphasis on the science behind the process.

This is the first published monograph on the cyanotype process. It describes the history, chemistry, conservation, aesthetics and practice of photographic printing in Prussian blue. The unpublished experimental memoranda of Sir John Herschel, inventor if the process, are interpreted to unfold his discovery of iron-based photography, including his various formulae for cyanotype. The chemistry of the process is explained for the non-specialist, and many experimental variations on blueprinting are described. This book should interest photohistorians, curators and conservators of photographs, photoscientists concerned with 'non silver' processes and photographic print-makers who wish to use cyanotype today as an expressive artistic medium.

The volume presents the results of a four-year inter-institutional, interdisciplinary research initiative led and organized by the National Gallery of Art. Contributions by 47 leading photograph conservators, scientists, and historians provide detailed examinations of the chemical, material, and aesthetic qualities of this important class of rare, beautiful, and technically complex photographs. The volume will help those who care for photograph collections gain a thorough appreciation of the technical and aesthetic characteristics of platinum and palladium prints and scientific basis for their preservation.

Platinotype: Making Photographs in Platinum and Palladium with the Contemporary Printing-out Process describes the mechanisms and chemistry of platinum/palladium printing in safe and practical ways. Clearly presented formulae allow the printer to work with platinum, palladium, or varying combinations of both. The printed-out image appears fully during exposure, and only requires simple and safe steps for clearing to a stable, archival state. The authors explain what makes the image, how all necessary components are prepared and used, and the kind of paper and negative needed to make prints. More than just a technical manual, the book underscores the authors' belief that printing is a creative, scientific, and philosophic way of working. The book presents an outstanding collection of prints by over 40 artists, all made with this printing-out process. The artists' notes and comments offer insights into their methods and thinking, and a large number of full-page reproductions serve as a valuable reference for the aspiring printer. The book includes: A list of supplies and equipment A detailed chemical glossary A Quick-start section in the Preface Summary sheets and workflows for each step of the process Instructions for making traditional negatives with Pyro PMK and digital negatives Explanation of the chemistry and dynamics of paper, and how to use buffered papers Instructions for controlling hydration processes and humidity Instructions for preparing each chemical solution needed for the process Discussion about the aesthetics of the platinum/palladium print Explanation of the relationships between light, image, and expression A detailed troubleshooting list Recommendations from conservators about processing, handling, and conservation Contemporary artists using the printing-out platinum/palladium process. Learning how to make platinum/palladium prints has been cloaked in a mystique of difficulty. Platinotype presents the process as a set of clearly explained and defined steps. Like other books in the series, Platinotype is a detailed and inspiring manual, accessible to both novices and experts, and illustrative of the contemporary arts.