Emulsion lifts with Impossible Shade Film

fotogal · Jun 29, 2011

I've been playing around with this. anyone have success doing it?

DPVisions · Jun 29, 2011

I have had success with lifts using color shade and silver shade films. I tried the approach from the video at the Impossible site and every time it failed with the emulsion tearing. There seems to be something that really holds the emulsion in place along the edges of the Mylar.

Using a sharp knife and a straight edge I cut away white parts of the film first then peel apart and soak the emulsion in hot tap water until it begins to separate from the Mylar. Once I get the emulsion free of the Mylar using a small soft watercolor brush I pull out the Mylar and slip my paper in underneath. I also dislike how soft the emulsion is when very warm, so I adjust water temperature until the emulsion gets a little bit more firm and easier to work with. Once on the paper I float the paper onto cold water to harden the gelatin back up again.

Iwagoshi · Jun 29, 2011

I've been successful with the hair-dryer technique, but must be done on fresh exposures.

fotogal · Jun 29, 2011

DPVisions said:
...
Using a sharp knife and a straight edge I cut away white parts of the film first then peel apart and soak the emulsion in hot tap water until it begins to separate from the Mylar. Once I get the emulsion free of the Mylar using a small soft watercolor brush I pull out the Mylar and slip my paper in underneath. I also dislike how soft the emulsion is when very warm, so I adjust water temperature until the emulsion gets a little bit more firm and easier to work with. Once on the paper I float the paper onto cold water to harden the gelatin back up again.

Thanks DPVisions. My biggest problem is the white glue. It doesn't seem to come off in the hot water, making the emulsion non-transparent.

I see you don't move the emulsion into the cold-water bath? You work only in the hot/warm water for the whole process?

I've found I don't have to use the brushes. If the water is warm enough, the emulsion comes off easily and I find it is quite durable and can take some abuse. I haven't had one tear on me yet.

fotogal · Jun 29, 2011

Iwagoshi said:
I've been successful with the hair-dryer technique, but must be done on fresh exposures.

thanks for the link Iwagoshi. Have you applied your transparency onto other surfaces, and if so, how do you attach them?

DPVisions · Jun 29, 2011

fotogal said:
Thanks DPVisions. My biggest problem is the white glue. It doesn't seem to come off in the hot water, making the emulsion non-transparent.

I see you don't move the emulsion into the cold-water bath? You work only in the hot/warm water for the whole process?

I've found I don't have to use the brushes. If the water is warm enough, the emulsion comes off easily and I find it is quite durable and can take some abuse. I haven't had one tear on me yet.

Teach me to not proof read before submitting. The thought occured but never made it to my fingers.

I use the brush to get that white milky glue gunk free from the gelatin. That is the other reason I cut/trim off the edges so that the white gunk is easy to remove.

Cheers,
David

Iwagoshi · Jun 29, 2011

fotogal said:
thanks for the link Iwagoshi. Have you applied your transparency onto other surfaces, and if so, how do you attach them?

Applied? Well, in a way...I'm trying to make enlarged prints--Ilfochromes and tri-color gum-bichromates--from the big transparencies.

fotogal · Jun 29, 2011

DPVisions said:
...
I use the brush to get that white milky glue gunk free from the gelatin. That is the other reason I cut/trim off the edges so that the white gunk is easy to remove.

I still can't get the white glue off. If the water is really hot, it will fall off in chunks. And then it will fall off in the cold water right after I move it. Pretty messy.

So, do you brush off the white glue after you've taken the image off the mylar? I think then I can see why you'd have difficulty having the emulsion tear.

The written instructions I have from Impossible are sort of vague, so I've been playing around with with it.

If you have any images to share, I hope you can post them. It would be helpful.

fotogal · Jun 29, 2011

Iwagoshi said:
Applied? Well, in a way...I'm trying to make enlarged prints--Ilfochromes and tri-color gum-bichromates--from the big transparencies.

Ahh, well then you wouldn't want to apply the image to anything. So, how is it working for you as in making enlarged prints? Can you share the process of enlargement with this type of film?

Newt_on_Swings · Jun 29, 2011

This is cool, I should go but a pack and try this out.

Iwagoshi · Jun 29, 2011

fotogal said:
Ahh, well then you wouldn't want to apply the image to anything. So, how is it working for you as in making enlarged prints? Can you share the process of enlargement with this type of film?

The Impossible/Ilfochrome process is fairly straight forward but not for the faint-hearted cost-wise, with marginal results (at the moment)--hard paper, soft positives. The Impossible/Gum process has just begun but hopes to utilize the soft Impossible imagery.

Emulsion lifts with Impossible Shade Film

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