Kallitype Printing

[zguy]

Anyone doing alternative printing process? I have recently start doing kallitype printing and find it to be very interesting. Here is a quick summary gathered from various articles found online.



Kallitype is contact printing process in the iron-silver family. In this case we are using ferric oxalate and silver nitrate.

1. The Sensitizer is made up of silver nitrate at 10% and ferric oxalate at 20% mixed in equal amount. Then it is applied with a brush or rod on a suitable paper under week, artificial light. After application the paper should left to dry.

2. A suitable negative is then placed on top of the coated paper and weigh down with a thick piece of glass.

3. It is then exposed to UV Light. Sunlight can be used but it is inconsistent. A better option is to use UV tubes.

4. The print is then developed using a 20% sodium citrate solution for 8-10 mins.

5. Then it is rinse with water for 5 mins follow by 5 mins of EDTA (ethylenediaminetetra acetic acid tetrasodium salt) solution.

6. Toning may be apply at this stage.

7. Else the print is fixed using a hypo fixer for one min.

8. To reduce washing time, the print is immersed in a Hypo Clearing Agent solution for one min.

9. Wash for 20 mins before hanging up to dry.

 

[nightwolf75]

:thumbsup:

but i guess the chems are not easily available in SG?

 

[zguy]

i did not source for raw chemicals in Singapore but instead bought the kit off ebay. Similar kits are available on Bostick-Sullivan or the one from Photographers' Formulary carried by B&H.

 

[zguy]

i put together a short video on the process based on the printing kit i have. If you are using another kit, the process may differs a bit.

[video=youtube;ydt47aZK9W4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydt47aZK9W4[/video]

 

[Riotbmx]

I do salt and cyanotype prints


BTW, did you make your own light box? I'm thinking of making one myself

 

[zguy]

I do salt and cyanotype prints


BTW, did you make your own light box? I'm thinking of making one myself

yes.. the UV exposure box is put together by me using a a few pieces of plywood and 4 UV tubes. it is good up to exposing a paper size of 12x10. Total cost =$150. a good investment as now i can the printing either in the day or night w/o depending on the sun.

 

[Riotbmx]

yes.. the UV exposure box is put together by me using a a few pieces of plywood and 4 UV tubes. it is good up to exposing a paper size of 12x10. Total cost =$150. a good investment as now i can the printing either in the day or night w/o depending on the sun.

Wow, that's quite expensive. How much does the UV tubes and ballast cost?

Oh, I tried albumen before. But it was very very difficult to get a smooth coating.

 

[zguy]

Wow, that's quite expensive. How much does the UV tubes and ballast cost?

Oh, I tried albumen before. But it was very very difficult to get a smooth coating.

I cant remember the exact breakdown. One 12" UV tube with starter, ballast and fixture is about $20-30. I just bought it off the first shop in sim lim that i found selling UV tubes. so you may find cheaper sources but then again, it is relatively cheaper compared to buying commercial unit.

 

[raytoei]

Clap clap clap!

 

[zguy]

Dragon Playground at Toa Payoh Lorong 6.

Another kallitype print off a 8x10 Fuji Xray film


Fabriano Artistico paper
Paper size is about 10x12.

 

[Riotbmx]

Here's my first salt print. Poorly done though


http://5iftysf.tumblr.com/post/49600879328/have-always-wanted-to-make-my-own

 

[zguy]

cool! the brush strokes edge is an art by itself. usually i marked the corners of the negative on the paper using a pencil. Then when i coat the paper, i make sure i exceed that area a bit.

What size is yr negative and what paper is this on?

 

[Riotbmx]

cool! the brush strokes edge is an art by itself. usually i marked the corners of the negative on the paper using a pencil. Then when i coat the paper, i make sure i exceed that area a bit.

What size is yr negative and what paper is this on?

Unfortunately I don't shoot LM. I print scans from my 35mm on transparency and print with those. My daughters would make cyanotype photograms using twigs and leaves

 

[crispy12]

Here's my first salt print. Poorly done though


5ifty SF | Have always wanted to make my own...

Very cool!

 

[zguy]

Fabriano Artistico paper
4x5 negative contacted print

 

[Riotbmx]

http://vimeo.com/m/66352973


Same same, but different. Looks pretty awesome with the rich blacks

 

[zguy]

Platinum Palladium Printing with Leica M Monochrom on Vimeo


Same same, but different. Looks pretty awesome with the rich blacks

very nice prints...the video is also very well made.

I did consider doing platinum printing initially but later i read that kallitype printing is the poor man's platinum printing as when the image is toned in platinum or palladium the result is nearly chemically identical to a true Platinum print.

 

[zguy]

i hope this is not a Rube Goldberg machine but i DIY an agitator. The Kallitype developing process is quite long and rather than manually agitate the tray, I thought an semi automatic process will help a lot.

The concept is simple. i use a string with S hook to hook the developing tray/box and a motor will reel it up and down . I use an Arudino board with a motor shield to control the timing and motor turn direction.



Now I am still using a breadboard. Each LED indicates a process. For eg, when the developing stage timing is reached, the LED will go off and the buzzer will sound. Then I will pour out the developer and pour in the critic water for the rinsing stage. To start the motor rotation, I will press the push button.


The 12V 30rpm motor. You can see the fishing line on the wooden screw which act as a reel.


The S hook.

 

[zguy]

Anyone knows whether is this kampong house in Ubin still standing?

 

[zguy]

W O O D