Gumoils Alternative Process

Gumoils

The Gumoil process was developed in 1990 by printmaker/photographer Karl Koenig. The Gumoil process uses sensitizing gum arabic mix and oil paint, creating a "handmade photograph".

The process begins with a positive on transparent film. The positive is placed in contact with uncolored gum bichromate which creates a negative gum bichromate print. This gum acts as a layer to resist oil paints, which are applied to the print after the gum has fully dried and hardened. Once paint is applied, it is allowed to sit on the print for several minutes before being removed. The paint will have soaked into the photo differently in different areas, depending on the hardness of the gum. In areas where the gum was very dry and hard, the paint will leave a lighter mark while areas with little to no gum allowed the paint to reach the print. The print is then soaked in water and some of the gum is cleaned off, exposing areas of the print underneath. Paint oils are applied once again, now affecting different areas of the print. This process can be continued until there is little to no gum left on the print.


sources:
http://www.alternativephotography.com/what-is-a-the-gumoil-process/
http://www.alternativephotography.com/the-gumoil-process/

Cyanotype

The Cyanotype, originating in the 1840's, was one of the first non-silver technologies used to create photographs. It is more commonly known by the name "Blueprint" given to it due to it's blue background. The two chemicals most commonly used in this process are Potassium ferricyanide, and  Ferric ammonium citrate. The ratio should be approximately 1:1; too much Potassium ferricyanide will slow down the printing process, and too little will cause the blue to bleed into lighter areas of the photo.

Steps:

1. Combine equal amount of both chemicals.

2. Apply both solutions to the print by brush or soak the print in the mixture.

3. Dry the print away from light. Common drying methods are clothing lines and blow dryers or fans.

Daguerrotype

The daguerrotype process was the first practicable method of obtaining permanent images with a camera. It is named after Louis Jacques Mande Daguerre, a French artist and painter.

Steps:

1- A silver-coated plate is polished until the surface is very reflective.

2- The plate is placed into the camera and a photo is taken.

3- The exposed plate is taken to a dark room where the image is "brought out" with fumes from heated mercury.

4- The image is "fixed" by bathing the plate in hyposulphate of soda.

5- The photo is then washed in distilled water and dried.