Chrysotype is about photographic printing in gold on paper. This 19th century printing process, modified for contemporary use, provides artists with an affordable way to produce permanent prints in gold. By using film or digital negatives, striking hand-coated prints can be created in monochromatic hues ranging from pink, violet, magenta and purple, to green, blue, grey and black.
Chrysotype offers a how-to guide for intermediate practitioners with illustrated examples and simple explanations for each stage of the chrysotype process. The book is divided into three sections: history; preparation and how-to; and the work of contemporary artists using chrysotype.
This book includes:
A concise account of the invention and modification of the chrysotype process, including early discoveries about gold and colour and the significance of moisture for printing in gold
How to set up your workspace for printing, including useful equipment and materials
Advice on safe chemical practice
A step-by-step guide to creating suitable digital and film negatives
Guidance on paper selection and how to successfully coat paper
An overview guide to creating a chrysotype print
Step-by step directions for creating the chrysotype solutions
An explanation of mixing ratios and solution volumes that control contrast
An illustrated explanation of the effect of humidity on colour, including split tone colours and ways to control humidity
Step-by-step directions on post-exposure hydration to lengthen tonal range and lower contrast
Step-by-step tray processing directions
Advanced techniques such as handling translucent papers, additional chrysotype formulas and procedures, and alternative developing agents that support longer development, colour formation and remedy problems that affect image quality
Troubleshooting chrysotype printing, including advice and photographic examples
Illustrated profiles of contemporary artists making chrysotype prints, including their methods and tips
Chrysotype serves to inform, encourage and challenge a new generation of alternate process practitioners and a growing chrysotype community, from the newly curious to the experienced professional.
By:
Leanne McPhee
Imprint: CRC Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 254mm,
Width: 203mm,
Weight: 820g
ISBN: 9781138345003
ISBN 10: 1138345008
Series: Contemporary Practices in Alternative Process Photography
Pages: 200
Publication Date: 28 October 2020
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Preface ; Introduction to chrysotype ; PART ONE: HISTORY; Chapter 1, Early experiments with gold and the chrysotype invented and reinvented; PART TWO: PREPARATION AND GUIDE TO CHRYSOTYPE; Chapter 2, Preparing for printing; Chapter 3, Preparing the negative; Chapter 4, Paper choice; Chapter 5, Overview of the chrysotype process; Chapter 6, Making and mixing the sensitiser.; Chapter 7, Coating Paper; Chapter 8, Regulating Paper Humidity; Chapter 9, Exposing and Processing the Print; Chapter 10, Troubleshooting chrysotype; PART THREE: CONTEMPORARY CHYRSOTYPE ARTISTS; Chapter 11, Contemporary chrysotype artists; Giorgio Bordin; Bianca Conwell; Wendy Currie; Miguel Duarte; Danielle Edwards; Mark L Eshbaugh; Esme Ann Everingham; Aileen Hubbard; Tony McLean; Pradip Malde; Marek Matusz; Mike Ware; Bibliography; Appendices; Suppliers; Chemical Information
Leanne McPhee is an award winning Australian fine art photographer and researcher with works held in public and private collections in Australia, China, Italy and the United States. She has demonstrated expertise in a variety of alternative photographic processes, particularly chrysotype and salted paper printing. McPhee is a regular contributor to national and international symposia, delivering hands on workshops and has published both technical and creative works. To see her work, visit leannemcphee.com.
Reviews for Chrysotype: A Contemporary Guide to Photographic Printing in Gold
'Chrysotype is a complex process with many variables yielding different results. This book corrals those variables into a clear path to a certain result' Jim Patterson 'Leanne McPhee has written an outstanding volume on the chrysotype process for photographic printing in pure gold, which can produce beautiful prints in colors ranging from pink to purple to brown, black, or blue. The book covers the history of the process along with very detailed and thorough practical instructions, and includes contributions from contemporary chrysotype artists to show the wide variety of excellent work that can be produced.' Mark Severson, Chemistry Professor and Alternative Photographic Process Artist
