How to get into Tintype

Archimedes the Dog

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I am interested in getting into tintype photography. The chemistry is intimidating as is the physical process of preparing dry plates, plus the equipment... Oy! Anyone gone through the learning process and have some good suggestions/advice? I looked around locally for people doing it but didn't have a ton of success.
 

MattKing

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Google the "Tin Gypsy"

She is great at what she does.

Also, there are a few people at the Pacifica Chapter of the Center for Photographic History and Technology (CPHT) who know a fair bit about the process: Dead Link Removed
 

Dennis S

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I saw people doing this last week outside of our swap meet. The weather was perfect for it and I was impressed at how well the photos turned out. Lacks in d.o.f. but it is very nice for portraits on 6"x 6" tin.
 
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Newt_on_Swings

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I kinda want to learn too, is it expensive to get the chemicals, drying racks, metal plates, holders, and whatever else is necessary to make and develop exposures? My 4x5 setup has been draining my budget. I wouldn't even know where to get started. I wish I knew someone by me to actually see the process first hand instead of YouTube videos.
 

bvy

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I'm also going through the process, but very slowly. There's wet plate and dry plate. Dry plate isn't so hard, and it's probably where most people should start. Rockland-Colloid makes a pretty affordable kit ($35) that has all you need to get started: http://rockaloid.com/Tintype-kit-authentic. Coating the plates with the liquid emulsion is the most challenging part. The rest of the process is pretty straightforward. There shouldn't be anything intimidating about the chemistry here.
 

TheToadMen

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I followed a course with dry plate once, see: http://thetoadmen.blogspot.nl/2012/09/making-dry-plate-glass-negatives-with.html

I made two portraits of a fellow participant on that day, using Rollei Black Magic (liquid emulsion kit):


The streaking in the second image is from too much agitation during tray development: it's not photo paper.
(BTW: the horizontal straight lines are from a garage door he is leaning to).

Poring the liquid emulsions on the glass plates is something you should practice. Since the emulsions are a bit too expensive to practice with, I recommend using a bottle of ordinary (liquid) coffee cream. It's cheap, has almost the same structure and you can practice a lot. First try it in daylight, then in the darkroom, etc.
To clean glass plates, use liquid detergent for washing cloths. Rub the glass plates with the detergent for a few minutes without gloves. This way you're fingers are clean and free from grease too ;-)

Have fun!

Bert from Holland
http://thetoadmen.blogspot.nl
 

removed account4

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the hardest thing about the dry plate ferrotype or dry plate ( silver gelatin ) method
is there are so few people who do this, and the developer is proprietary so its hard to mix your own ...

have fun!
john
 

bvy

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I didn't realize you were a regular here, Bert -- least of all, "The Toad Men." I found those images on your blog and was studying them pretty seriously at one point during my initial research of this technique. I might have some questions for you at some later date. Take care...
 

TheToadMen

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I've sent you a PM with my email address, for your later questions.
 

MDR

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Equipment can be super cheap you can use a boxcamera like a Kodak brownie and make small tintypes. Collodion tintypes look a bit different then gelatine dryplate ones.
 
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Archimedes the Dog

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MDR said:
Equipment can be super cheap you can use a boxcamera like a Kodak brownie and make small tintypes. Collodion tintypes look a bit different then gelatine dryplate ones.
Click to expand...

Wet plate you mean? Yes, but I feel the dry plate are going to be a better start.
 
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Archimedes the Dog

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MDR said:
Equipment can be super cheap you can use a boxcamera like a Kodak brownie and make small tintypes. Collodion tintypes look a bit different then gelatine dryplate ones.
Click to expand...

Do you have a good reference on learning to use a brownie, for example?
 

ChristopherCoy

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TheToadMen

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MDR

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Archimedes the Dog

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ugh, you got me to read the comments...

Thanks for the links, though. My search-fu was weak.
 

removed account4

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collodion.com is for WET plate, not DRY ..
it will be of little help if the OP wants
to learn how to make silver gelatin tin+ambrotypes...
there are very few resources ...
but if you go to the http://www.thelightfarm.com/
look at instructions on how to coat DRY PLATES
it is very similar but you need to coat a THIN layer ..
and the developer is proprietary ...
i have been using the rockland kit with successes and failures
and the failures are because i am not using fresh emulsion
but expired stuff, so my results are not typical.

have fun!
john
 

HeatherC

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I just finished up a Wet Plate class this weekend. Was held at a local art center - 3 days, learned everything from start to finish, and was the least expensive class I've seen posted anywhere ($250 3 days all materials included). Looks like they'll be doing another class + a salt printing class later in the fall. http://www.ssreg.com/visualarts/classes/classes.asp?catID=4319 Probably a long way for the OP to travel for a class, but might not be too far for someone else who might be interested. I thought it was a great class! Came out with 9 plates.
 

nsurit

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My avatar is a scan from a wet plate done with a Holga. This was produced at a Santa Fe Photographic Workshop with Christopher James. Great teacher and wonderful location. Bill Barber
 
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Archimedes the Dog

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I am going to pick up an Ansco Buster Brown No 3 box camera to start, they have a 4x5 profile that I have found some to use for 4x5 film, seems like a good starter option. I don't really want to start with wet plate at least, the Rockland kit seems to meet my needs and I can work my way in that direction.
 
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