Photographs on Cloth

[enviro_tofu]

I'm looking for a method of putting photos on cloth, but I have the disadvantage of not having large format negatives (making cyanotype disagreeable). I'm a photo major who's fairly new to the game and I'm looking to try this out. My mother is a brilliant seamstress and would like to make a quilt for me with my photography. Do you know of a process that would be safe/effective for this? Thanks so much.

 

[JBrunner]

Liquid light may be what fits the bill. Rockland is an APUG sponsor, and they have a banner link on the APUG home page.

 

[magic823]

My wife has done this with both VanDyke and Kallitype.

Steve

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

You can also enlarge on photo linen. I'm not sure who is making this at the moment. I have some Maco photo linen, and I think it's been available from Kentmere in the past.

 

[Gerald Koch]

I remember seeing a cyanotype bed throw. Rather than using negatives the images were shadowgrams where objects were placed on the cloth before exposure. The images were white negative images on a blue backgound.

 

[Aggie]

Fabrics act differently than paper. Once you have your image on the fabric and have rinsed it, you will want to mist it with a vinegar/water solution then iron it with a hot iron. This helps the stain to set in the fabric. Air drying it will eliminate the vinegar odor. Unlike papers that we have to treat archival, with fabric it is setting a stain that is important.

 

[jd callow]

This past summer I saw an exhibition where one of the artists used what looked like liquid light on common canvas and then projected an image. The works were very large (maybe 5' x7') and the image was very contrasty uneven, in and out of focus, etc.. She (I think it was a woman) proceeded to paint over the image and adhere things to the canvas. The photo was the central piece and all the additions were done to complement the photo. It was pretty cool and looked as if it would have been a ball to do.

 

[Hamster]

I have found a pack of "photoleinen" from my local flea market, probably been expired for decades, there was no instruction enclosed. I tried to expose with the same work flow as I do with paper (3-tray process), very low contrast image and the edges under the easel went black as well.

Does anyone know if I need to expose and process with special technique?

The material is called "Argenta Photoleinen L".

 

[ann]

if it is similar to those linen papers from the past it is treated as a normal black and white print. If the whole piece went black than it has been exposed or that is some serious age fog.

 

[keithwms]

It's certainly possible. Look at how the "world's largest photograph" was made.

 

[Mark Fisher]

If I were to do this, I'd do cyanotype or VanDyke. To do this, though, you'd need to make enlarged negatives either optically or by the method-that-shall-not-be-named (but is discussed on the hybrid forum). I'd be afraid that liquid light wouldn't be durable enough to actually use.It would be fine for a wall hanging, though.

 

[Phil]

Here's an option. A local t-shirt shop has a Kornit 931 inkjet printer they use to print low volume orders - see a specs at: http://www.kornit-digital.com - I've had them scan some 809 8x10 Polaroids to print shirts. The ink is heat set, so it is washable - not sure of long term stability of the ink. One-off t-shirts are about $15 including a white shirt, IIRC. They told me they were looking to upgrade to a model that would allow them to have white ink and print on any color shirt.

 

[Hamster]

if it is similar to those linen papers from the past it is treated as a normal black and white print. If the whole piece went black than it has been exposed or that is some serious age fog.

Nope, tried again with normal B/W process, just gray, no image. Probably killed by age fog.

 

[Ian Grant]

Back in the 70's I used quite a bit of photo-linen, it was great stuff, I only kept one image for myself a portrait and remarkably it looked like the spitting image of an APUP member, Jeff Bannow now the subject looks like Phil

I have several formulae fo treating fabric, but how well they work I've no idea, the Photo linen could be washed nad was extremely robust.

Ian

 

[nsurit]

There is a person you sells all sorts of coated material. I think it is mentioned in Christipher James' book on alternative photographic processes which I have where I will be this weekend. If no one has come up with the "gittin place" by then, I'll post it back to the list. Bill Barber

 

[Hamster]

Are there any current production of Photo-Linen? I think there are some potential for interesting project I am doing.

 

[AgX]

No current production.

 

[Peter de Groot]

Well recently I read a recepy how to make light sensitive past that you could put on a t-shirt and put it under an enlarger. I can see If i can dig it up. I propably have to translate it as well. I don't know about durability or something it was pretty basic. But if the is interest I can dig it up.

 

[nsurit]

OK guys, yes this is cyanotype, however even if that is not what you want, it is worth a visit.

http://www.blueprintsonfabric.com/

also

"The Book of Alternative Photgraphic Processes" by Christopher James

Bill Barber