Lippmann Photography

[Young He]

Hi all,

I have been searching for a relatively simple color process for large format photography because large format color sheet film is too expensive and carbon printing and other processes of that type are too time consuming, and I believe Lippmann plates are the answer. I understand the problems present with Lippmann plates (Hard to duplicate, low speed, etc) but I have read that the color reproduction is excellent and the colors are very "vibrant". Can anyone who has personally seen Lippmann photographs confirm that they are at least comparable to "modern" color films or digital imaging in terms of color, saturation, etc? Also can anyone who has made Lippmann photographs possibly give me tips on developing and coating? This might be more trouble than its worth, so I would like some outside opinion because I do not think the internet photos give these images justice. Thanks.

Edit: I've heard the word "isochromatic" pop up in several of the documents I have read on the subject. I do not really know what that implies in this scenario. Please help.

 

[Truzi]

Someone here had a thread about making his own Lippman plates. I can't find it at the moment, but some time with the search should turn it up.


Edited to add:
Here's something for you:
https://www.photrio.com/forum/index.php?threads/anyone-ever-make-lippmann-plates.54480/

It's been a while since I read it. I'm probably wrong (someone will correct me) but I think Lippman photography is basically interferometry.

 

[ThePhotoChemist]

Hi there. I am still actively making Lippmann plates. I put everything I know into a guide that you can read here. Feel free to drop me a message if you have any questions about the process. There is also a Lippmann facebook you can seek out with some slow but active discussion.

Colors can be quite vibrant if you really nail the exposure + development time. Develop too little and the colors are accurate but dim. Too much, and the plate is very bright and muddy. I think if I was using mercury or another mirror it would be easier to obtain consistent bright and pure colors, but I know I'm a bit too clumsy to work with mercury regularly.

If you think carbon printing is too time consuming, this might not be the process for you... I'm getting better with practice but it's still very unpredictable. You can buy PFG-03C holography plates if you want to try your hand at Lippmann photography without making the emulsion/coating etc, but it's much cheaper to make it yourself. Personally, I like the process because I enjoy the satisfaction of being able to make color photographs 100% from scratch.

 

[J 3]

Edit: I've heard the word "isochromatic" pop up in several of the documents I have read on the subject. I do not really know what that implies in this scenario. Please help.

Isochromatic means not only is the emulsion sensitive to all the visible colors of light (panchromatic), but it's also equally sensitive to each of them. This is of course desirable but if you manage to get a workable panchromatic emulsion its quite a bit easier to do some experiments and throw a filter over the lens to get the colors ballenced (something like a Rosco Cinegel swatchbook might be handy figuring out the color correction needed). The other option is tweaking the sensitizing dyes til the exposure curve is perfect.