The Handmade Silver Gelatin Emulsion Print

The Handmade Silver Gelatin Emulsion Print is a cookbook of simple, basic recipes for making black and white printing paper and paper negatives, along with creative options for printing, toning, and coloring. Author Denise Ross draws from photographic literature from the last 135 years, adapting old recipes to fit modern tools, materials, and work spaces and modern twists have been applied to traditional techniques.

The book is divided into three sections: Section One lays the groundwork for this unique alternative process; Section Two provides the recipes; Section Three highlights contemporary silver gelatin artists.

The book features over 200 full-color images and covers key topics including:

Vocabulary: a list of terms used by traditional photographers and emulsion makers

Creating work spaces with the right tools and materials

Basic emulsion chemistry and paper coating techniques

Working with various negative options, analog and digital

Gaslight chloride contact printing paper

Kodabromide-type chlorobromide all-purpose paper

Bromide enlarging paper

Warm tone paper and developers

Making and toning your own printing-out paper (POP)

Matte surface and baryta coating surface paper

Paper negatives and making hand-drawn and digital masks

Toning handmade paper

Gum printing over handmade paper

Troubleshooting handmade paper

Artists working with handmade paper

The Handmade Silver Gelatin Emulsion Print is for photographers who love the look and creative potential of black and white traditional photography but who want more control over the process and the end product. It is written for the beginner to experienced photographer, with processes initially explained in such a way that anyone will feel comfortable getting started, as well as information in increasing levels of complexity so that experienced photographers who enjoy a challenge will also find one.