Is anyone using sensitizers in their emulsions?

[holmburgers]

Just curious.

I've finally delved into photo chemistry with George T. Eaton's "Photographic Chemistry", and also Friedman's "History of Color Photography" (thanks PE) and it just got me thinking about the strange folks that hang out on this forum. My last chemistry experience was in 9th grade, so this is basically all new to me.

I read F.E. Ives 'Autobiography of an Amateur Inventor" and he had a seemingly simple means for producing panchromatic (or at least more sensitive than usual) plates by making a tincture from some kind of plant, and coating it on the plate. The sensitizer was chlorophyll. It seemed like such a simple and elegant method.

Anywhoo, just hoping to start some discussion.

 

[Kirk Keyes]

Do some searching here. PE and Bill have had some lengthy discussions on sensitizers. Bill even played with Chlorophyll last year.

 

[Photo Engineer]

There is a rather longish thread on this lurking somewhere.

Basically, common Ivy can be used to extract the chlorophyll into alcohol (Everclear) and it can be used to generate a weak sensitization in the red region. Along with Erythrosine you get green and thus Pan sensitivity. These are two common approaches. A company called H. Sands in Titusville Fla. makes "real" photographic sensitizing dyes at about $100 / teeny tiny bottle of about 100 mg - 1 g depending on the dye.

Chlorophyll solution does not keep well.

PE

 

[holmburgers]

Very cool. Sorry, I should've searched first... I'll do that now.

 

[Kirk Keyes]

Basically, common Ivy can be used to extract the chlorophyll into alcohol (Everclear)

Spinach is a common source for extracting chlorophyll. Grind/mash the leaves up a bit before extraction. Store extracts in a freezer.

 

[holmburgers]

Doing some searching, I just came across anthotypes. This is new to me and most interesting!

 

[wildbillbugman]

A company called H. Sands in Titusville Fla. makes "real" photographic sensitizing dyes at about $100 / teeny tiny bottle of about 100 mg - 1 g depending on th

PE[/QUOTE]

PE- Sands must not like me as much as they like you! I paid $150/gram bottle plus a hefty "convenience fee".
Chlorophyll from spinach really did not pan out that well for me. I may return to it someday. I did get a kinda - sorta panchro-ish emulsion combining the chlorophyll with a red dye extracted from beetles. So much mess, I might as well have made my own gelatin from raw cow skin.
Bill

 

[Ray Rogers]

A company called H. Sands in Titusville Fla. makes "real" photographic sensitizing dyes...PE

Unless they have moved, I think Sands is still on Jupiter
Titusville is where I enjoyed high school....