Calotype question

htmlguru4242 · Sep 17, 2012

I was taking a look at information about the calotype process, and a question hit me: why was silver iodide used instead of silver bromide? Wouldn't using the bromide result in a faster, more develop-able result?

Then again, I very well may be missing something huge here.

MDR · Sep 18, 2012

Both were used, the original formula is iodide only and a wet process. The advantages of bromides were discovered for the daguerreotype first and later transferred to the calotype process. see Greenlaw process. Dead Link Removed

Dominik

htmlguru4242 · Sep 18, 2012

Man, i can always count on APUG to come through!

htmlguru4242 · Sep 19, 2012

Well, my calotype supplies have arrived! Lets see how this goes!

Jerevan · Sep 20, 2012

Check out the Calotype Society on Flickr if you haven't already. A lot of good tips and beautiful 'types.

htmlguru4242 · Sep 20, 2012

I haven't taken too much of a look at their tips and discussion, but the photographs are unbelievable.

It's hard to believe that some of those photographs are taken on paper! The sharpness and clarity is really pretty good.

MDR · Sep 22, 2012

Htmlguru4242 have you read Ellie Youngs Master Thesis:"Mechanisms of controlling colour and aesthetic appearance of the photographic salt print", it's available online and is very interesting http://researchbank.rmit.edu.au/view/rmit:7850

Dominik

Jerevan · Sep 22, 2012

I think the Society is becoming a very good repository of variants and ways to do things - some of the people seems to be well read and dedicated.

htmlguru4242 · Sep 22, 2012

Reading through these, and other internet sources, I'm surprised that some of those processes never achieved more widespread use.

Some of the guys seem to have goof luck with iron development, which is attractive given the developer's low cost

This will be fun.

cliveh · Sep 22, 2012

If you really want to understand the Calotype process, may I suggest you spend at least a year experimenting with this process.

htmlguru4242 · Sep 22, 2012

I'm certainly not expecting this to happen overnight. There's so much research and information out there from the past that I think you could spend a year reading and still not get through half of it ...

I'm going to make sure that I document everything as I go.

Calotype question

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