LIQUID LIGHT HELP WANT TO PRINT ON LEATHER

Amaliaf · Oct 28, 2019

Hi there,

I am looking to expose on image onto chamois leather using liquid light and I want to chamois elather to retain its fabric like qualities so its soft and malleable, is there anyway to do this because everyone keeps telling me I cant but im sure there is a way.

Ive never used liquid light before so suggestions are very much welcome!

kevs · Nov 8, 2019

Amaliaf said:
Hi there,

I am looking to expose on image onto chamois leather using liquid light and I want to chamois elather to retain its fabric like qualities so its soft and malleable, is there anyway to do this because everyone keeps telling me I cant but im sure there is a way.

Ive never used liquid light before so suggestions are very much welcome!

Hi Amaliaf,

Welcome to Photrio. I've experimented with liquid emulsions on glass, watercolour paper and tracing paper. IIRC, the emulsion frilled and floated off the tracing paper in the developer, glass didn't work well either. My effort on watercolour paper produced the best result but it partly floated off during processing. TBH, I began to have a lot more appreciation of modern photographic papers that week!

You could just buy a bottle and experiment with it (only way to really learn the technique), though I'd recommend researching the technique before you start buying the stuff. Liquid emulsion can be tricky to work with. If the leather is absorbent you might need to size it first. Coated emulsion can bubble up or float off the surface during processing and washing. The links below should be enough to get you started.

https://www.alternativephotography.com/the-liquid-emulsion-process/comment-page-1/
https://www.instructables.com/id/The-Darkroom-Liquid-Light-Emulsion/

Good luck and have fun.
kevs

P.S., There's no need to SHOUT!

Ian Grant · Nov 8, 2019

Many years ago I had some samples from John Blishen a London company and their photo fabric, it was made in Germany , it was very flexible and you could wash the resulting images, and I have 30+ years later with no adverse results.

I manufactured emulsions commercially in the 70's and 80's and most definitely wouldn't take the approach of using Liquid Light, actually I was their first ever UK customer and it was a one off purchase.

There are better ways of sensitizing fabrics including possibly Chamois leather and substantially cheaper as well.

Ian

Brendan Quirk · Nov 8, 2019

I am not a coating expert, but maybe some of those here can think of a potential "tie layer" that could help anchor the emulsion to the substrate.

Amaliaf · Nov 16, 2019

Ian Grant said:
Many years ago I had some samples from John Blishen a London company and their photo fabric, it was made in Germany , it was very flexible and you could wash the resulting images, and I have 30+ years later with no adverse results.

I manufactured emulsions commercially in the 70's and 80's and most definitely wouldn't take the approach of using Liquid Light, actually I was their first ever UK customer and it was a one off purchase.

There are better ways of sensitizing fabrics including possibly Chamois leather and substantially cheaper as well.

Ian

Which ways would you suggest to sensitive the chamois?

Amaliaf · Nov 16, 2019

Brendan Quirk said:
I am not a coating expert, but maybe some of those here can think of a potential "tie layer" that could help anchor the emulsion to the substrate.

Hi there,

Do you mean something to coat the leather with?
I have tried some experiments with polyurethance varnish, PVA and one without - I will be doing a workshop on Monday.

Brendan Quirk · Nov 16, 2019

Amaliaf said:
Hi there,

Do you mean something to coat the leather with?
I have tried some experiments with polyurethance varnish, PVA and one without - I will be doing a workshop on Monday.

I was thinking of a layer that has good adhesion to both the leather and the emulsion. Maybe a diluted white glue (which is an emulsion of polyvinyl acetate or vinyl acetate ethylene, which is more flexible). Ian Grant's post makes me think maybe a coating that layers on the surface would probably peel back off. If the white glue were diluted enough to soak into the leather, but was still thick enough to cover the surface, it could maybe work, but the "hand" of the leather would be very stiff. Maybe a custom made coating with the silver salts in them that soaks in enough to bind to the leather successfully. This is beyond my capabilities...

removed account4 · Nov 16, 2019

I'm not sure that PVA will work as a binder with liquid silver emulsion. Gelatin ( hardened ) works as a good binder and it will not yellow like urethane.

wiltw · Nov 16, 2019

Even if you can solve the issue of adherents of the emulsion to the leather surface, your larger issue is the fact that highlights in the photo will be no brighter than the leather itself!

LIQUID LIGHT HELP WANT TO PRINT ON LEATHER

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