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.