Many thanks. I thought the same about the process being too complicated and left Gums to try out last, but with a bit of care early success can be achieved. Like most things a bit of prior research pays off, or if you can get along to a workshop or two that will be a great help. I just followed the excellent advice given by Christopher James in his Alternative Photographic Processes book.Do give them a go sometime - great fun and freedom Neil.
I know it is taboo to talk digital, but Photoshop gives you 4 four color, B&W negatives to pin register and get better separation of the colors. Use to do it with color separation negatives but not available anymore. Doing it this way I don't feel I have lost the analog aspect of photography,. Since it takes me one to two days to make a print. Check out my photos and you can see one of my shows with platinum and 4 color gum prints. The show was posted on this site. Also there is a You tube vid where one photographer does this and is really way better than anyone I have ever seen.
I know it is taboo to talk digital, but Photoshop gives you 4 four color, B&W negatives to pin register and get better separation of the colors. Use to do it with color separation negatives but not available anymore. Doing it this way I don't feel I have lost the analog aspect of photography,. Since it takes me one to two days to make a print. Check out my photos and you can see one of my shows with platinum and 4 color gum prints. The show was posted on this site. Also there is a You tube vid where one photographer does this and is really way better than anyone I have ever seen.
At the moment I prefer the look I can achieve using camera negs, copy negs and paper negs. I also love doing gums free-form style with the occasional third pass - I am hooked on the distressed look. Neil.