Platinum-Palladium Prints
For some time now I’ve been working to improve my Platinum – Palladium printing techniques. It’s been a long road, but worth the effort, costs, and frustrations. Learning this printing process from scratch is not for the faint hearted, or those looking for quick gratification. I lost count of my dead-ends and trashed prints. But, I finally now am able to produce a predictable print that gives me the results I’ve been looking for.
Washi Artisan
I start with a Digital Negative, this part alone has a very long learning curve. I settled on prints with 50-50 Platinum-Palladium on Arches Platine. I tend to print small as I think this process lends itself to the intimacy that a small image offers. These prints are either 3.5″ square or 3″ x 4.5″.
Making Washi
Almost everything in my studio is DIY. I started exposing the image in the sun, but even in New Mexico, that’s too variable, so I made my own light box and contact frame. I made a sink because I could’t find a pre fabricated one that fit my needs. I made a light protective drying rack. Sure, all this was a lot of work, but I got just what I wanted.
Moroccan Cart
I started printing my Digital Negatives on an Epson R2880 using Epson inks, then I switched to Jon Cone’s Piezography ink-set. The R2880 was slowing dying and making my life miserable in the process, so I got a new Epson 1430. It has 6 ink cartridges instead of 8, and has been flawless for me. I’m still using Jon’s inks with the 1430.
Selfie
In this post are some scans of my images. The theme of these images is pretty obvious: It’s mostly People in their Environment, taken from my recent travels…
Shikoku Pilgrimage
Generations
Incense
The Mezcalero
Looking Smart
Making Goat Tacos
Textile Market
Taxi?
A sense of scale
Alison Stepping
Rice Field
Indian Laundry
Spiral
In the Jewish Quarter
Quietly Eating
Cycling Road
robert j. mang photography 
Bob, hi. Hope you and Alison are well. I haven’t been able to see the images yet. I’m in London right now and working off an old phone using a UK sims card, but I’m sure they are brilliant.
And I had to tell you that I too have been working on salt and palladium printing for a year so I get your frustrations. A lot of paper thrown out and the good images make it all worthwhile. Some friends and I bought a printer and now we’re working on the light box. I actually had a conversation with one of the owners of bostick and Sullivan and your name came up. Small world. Makes me think our paths will cross again in a different context.
Yesterday I went to the V&A and saw the Paul strand retrospective. Magnificent and inspiring.
Fondly, Susan
Sent from my iPhone
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A very nice series. I particularly like your printing and the edges of the prints.
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Congrats on your success!! Love the images and the detail.
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Great work!
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Robert: These new prints look very nice – I would love to get a better look in-person. I am glad you have stayed with the ‘long road’ on mastering this technique. We should plan to get together soon!
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