Platinum Printing in the 21st Century
REGISTER: Maine Media Workshops
This workshop will give the beginner platinum printer the knowledge and experience to make platinum prints. The more experienced platinum printer can use this workshop to build on your skillset and help solve problem printing issues. We will work with the Traditional Platinum /Palladium Printing Process but discuss other platinum/palladium processes, such as Palladium only and the NA2 Process. Additional topics include paper choices, image color, contrast controls, different coating methods, use of step wedges, and masking techniques. We will discuss and demonstrate making your developers and mixing your sensitizer and solutions from dry chemicals if there is time and interest.
You are expected to use a color management system (Lightroom, and Photoshop are preferred), to edit your work and export files to a printer and /or a thumb drive. We will use Photoshop to make the negatives. Students should bring plenty of digital files of images they wish to print (Tiff or DNG at least 360 dpi at the desired print size). If you are using a program like Capture One, you will have to export your files to a thumb drive and work on a workshop iMac using Photoshop to make negatives. We will have several Epson printers available in the classroom. You will create and print your negatives using my standard curve for Epson printers. The curves we will be using are for PHOTOSHOP only.
The largest suggested print size is 8×10 tiff at 360 dpi. I do not recommend making prints larger than 8×10 when learning the process. Platinum/Palladium printing is expensive, but with adequately made negatives, one can make approximately (15) fifteen) 8×10 prints with the required kit (which costs about $40 a print).
During the week, you can expect to spend most of your time making platinum/palladium prints. However, there may be opportunities to make new images at some point during the workshop; bring your cameras, and laptop computer. In addition, I will give a lecture each day, adding further information or techniques that build on the previous day’s work.
Monday Morning: Introduction to the darkroom.
Workflow from Capture to final print.
Monday Afternoon: Make the first negatives and begin printing.
Tuesday Morning: Image Color based on PT/PD proportions/Continue Printing
Tuesday Afternoon: Using a different Paper
Wednesday Morning: Making your developers
Wednesday Afternoon: Printing with different developers
Thursday: Working on final prints
Friday Afternoon: Clean up lab and Lecture and demo how to make your curves.
I have arranged with Bostick and Sullivan to have a special kit put together for this class. Everyone will be using the same supplies.
The Bostick and Sullivan Platinum Palladium Kit for this workshop includes
35 ml Traditional Platinum & Palladium Combo Kit
11×15″ Heavy Arches Platine 310 gsm
Langnickel Brushes
You must call Bostick and Sullivan at 505.474.0890 and ask for the Tillman Crane Platinum Palladium Kit for the Maine Media Workshop Class, August 7 to 11, 2023. The approximate cost for these essential materials is $600. You must have your materials ready to begin the class on Monday morning. You will not be allowed in the course if you do not have your supplies. Order your supplies two weeks before the class is scheduled to begin.
