Solargraphy????

EASmithV · Jun 21, 2009

I found a flickr photostream full of fabulous solagraphy. http://www.flickr.com/photos/foundphotography/sets/72157612887637912/

Why does bw paper make a color image? Can someone please explain how/why this works? Wouldn't the image degrade once you took it out of the camera/scanned it/contact printed it? How do you preserve the image?

E76 · Jun 21, 2009

You don't preserve the image; scanning it or photographing it is the only way. If you developed them, you'd end up with a black piece of paper. If you fixed them, you'd end up with nothing. The images don't degrade immediately, however, because it takes a tremendous amount of light to print B&W paper out like that.

As for why they make a color (or pseudo-color image, anyway), I have no idea, but I'd like to know myself. Solargraphs are pretty cool.

WGibsonPhotography · Jun 21, 2009

really cool. No idea how it works, though :/

EASmithV · Jun 22, 2009

I put some scissors on a test strip and exposed it for a while for an image to form. Threw it in the fixer and the image faded, but did not dissapear. I think if I gave it extra exposure and then fixed I might be able to get a permanant solartype. Defenately worth a try.

WGibsonPhotography · Jun 22, 2009

EASmithV said:
I put some scissors on a test strip and exposed it for a while for an image to form. Threw it in the fixer and the image faded, but did not dissapear. I think if I gave it extra exposure and then fixed I might be able to get a permanant solartype. Defenately worth a try.

I found scrap sheet of Slavic Unibrom paper in a folder with some crooked, improperly exposed, and otherwise ruined prints. that sheet apparently had a sheet of 35mm negatives on it while I was working in the darkroom. there's a faint green outline around the sprockets. It's kinda cool. I probably wouldnt have thought about it if I hadnt read this thread first

Akki14 · Jun 22, 2009

Lumen prints sound similar to this but you can fix them usually and if not, you tone before you fix to help keep an image on the paper.

Tom A · Jun 22, 2009

Lumen print can be quite colorful on their own. I got colors ranging from blue/purple over green to pink on one sheet of paper. Very colorful B&W print

The reason for the colors is the size of the silver grains in the paper. With small grain giving reddish and large grain giving bluish colors. This must also apply to the colors in solargraphy.

Tom

EASmithV · Jun 23, 2009

If you toned a solargraph, wouldn't it screw it up?

Louis Nargi · Jun 24, 2009

Vary Interesting thanks.

mike c · Jun 24, 2009

Hello EASmithV,looked at your flickr site and there is some very good and interesting photo's there you have.About color in B&w paper not to long ago I had mistakenly filled a tray with hypo clear in stead of fixer,not knowing what I'd done went ahead and made a print. Turned on the light with the print still in what I thought was fixer and saw a brilliant blue print turn black before my eyes. Haven't tried repeating the mistake,must be something in the hypo clear that gave the print a very blue color.

Mike

fiducio · Jun 30, 2009

When doing this, should I load the paper in the dark before hand? I am definitely going to attempt this today...

And I have some left over sheet film with no more 4x5 camera. Would this work? :]

bsdunek · Jun 30, 2009

I often wondered why I get color in my Lumen prints - see:
http://brucecsdunekphotography.zenfolio.com/p941044908
I also didn't know you should tone them before fixing. When I tried to tone fixed Lumen prints all the color dissapeared! Guess I try it the other way. Sure is interesting how these things work.

fiducio · Jul 1, 2009

I'm attempting this with three materials in pinhole can cameras. One fogged sheet of 4X5 B&W sheet film I was using for test strips. A piece of cut up glossy Color RA4 Paper (ew, glossy! two boxes left I will never use...). And The norm matte ilford fiber paper!

Find out what happens by the end of the day!

Oddgeir · Jul 1, 2009

look here:
http://www.solargraphy.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10&Itemid=11

EASmithV · Jul 13, 2009

mike c said:
Hello EASmithV,looked at your flickr site and there is some very good and interesting photo's there you have.About color in B&w paper not to long ago I had mistakenly filled a tray with hypo clear in stead of fixer,not knowing what I'd done went ahead and made a print. Turned on the light with the print still in what I thought was fixer and saw a brilliant blue print turn black before my eyes. Haven't tried repeating the mistake,must be something in the hypo clear that gave the print a very blue color.

Mike

Somehow I missed this. Thanks !

How does the size of the silver have to do with the color? Do you remember what website/book you read it in? I'm curious to read it.

Chrisk99 · Jul 15, 2009

EASmithV said:
How does the size of the silver have to do with the color?

A very wild guess but maybe the size is linked to the wavelength of light it will reflect/refract.

Solargraphy????

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