why wet over dry plate?

drgoose · Nov 6, 2014

I am a complete newbie but I am interested in getting into alt process. I have been reading about dry plate and just ordered a tintype kit but I am also curious about wet plate. I think I am missing something because I can't see the reason to choose wet over dry plate. I have never seen either in person but the scanned images look similar.

Why choose wet plate with the time limitations plus the risk of either blowing yourself up or poisoning yourself with cadmium or cyanide. I know that if handle properly the risks is small but it is not zero.

Please help me understand why wet plate. The process looks really cool, I am just worries about the risks.

Thank you in advance.

Joaquin

Light Guru · Nov 6, 2014

drgoose said:
I am a complete newbie but I am interested in getting into alt process. I have been reading about dry plate and just ordered a tintype kit but I am also curious about wet plate.

First off Tintypes are a wet plate process.

drgoose said:
Why choose wet plate with the time limitations plus the risk of either blowing yourself up or poisoning yourself with cadmium or cyanide. I know that if handle properly the risks is small but it is not zero.

Some people enjoy having their hand in the in whole process. There wis a greater since of accomplishment when you make something from scratch.

drgoose · Nov 6, 2014

So what at aluminum plates coated with gelatin ams silver nitrate called?

removed account4 · Nov 6, 2014

hi doctor

its also called a tintype, but a silver gelatin tintype. and like
the wet plate one it is also called a ferrotype.

drgoose · Nov 6, 2014

jnanian thank you for your reply. Do the wet and dry tintypes look different after all is said and done?

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removed account4 · Nov 6, 2014

hi doctor,
the pleasure is mine

some say they look the same, they used to be advertised back in "the day"
to look identical, i have seen some ( not in person ) by people
who seemed to have gotten their process down/ the kinks out, and they look absolutely beautiful.
nice contrast full tonal scale, just beautiful, some people like to enlarge onto them
in their darkroom instead of exposing in a camera so that is an option too
... the ones on glass, they have a funky look to them kind of greenish grey ...

like with collodion-wet-plate there are people who do more of a "rustic" job ( bad pour, emulsion lift &c )
if you google " silver gelatin tintype" or "modern tintype" you might see lots of them .. some good, some better, some great.

the instructions with the kit are pretty straight forward ... have fun

john

dwross · Nov 7, 2014

Originally Posted by drgoose:
Why choose wet plate with the time limitations plus the risk of either blowing yourself up or poisoning yourself with cadmium or cyanide. I know that if handle properly the risks is small but it is not zero.

Light Guru said:
First off Tintypes are a wet plate process.
Some people enjoy having their hand in the in whole process. There wis a greater since of accomplishment when you make something from scratch.

Dry plates (gelatin or collodion) are made from scratch. Believe me, you'll get your hands in the whole process up to your elbows .

Wayne · Nov 7, 2014

Mojo.

Light Guru · Nov 7, 2014

dwross said:
Dry plates (gelatin or collodion) are made from scratch. Believe me, you'll get your hands in the whole process up to your elbows .

Yes you can make them but I have also heard of people buying them. I don't know if buying them is still an option though.

drgoose · Nov 7, 2014

Denise do you have any video tutorials on how the emulsion is made and the plates coated?

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removed account4 · Nov 7, 2014

Light Guru said:
Yes you can make them but I have also heard of people buying them. I don't know if buying them is still an option though.

kodak used to sell tmx glass plates, and slavich used to sell glass plates as well.
its more fun to coat your own !

hoffy · Nov 7, 2014

I'm going to watch this thread with interest!

dwross · Nov 7, 2014

drgoose said:
Denise do you have any video tutorials on how the emulsion is made and the plates coated?

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As a matter of fact... http://www.thelightfarm.com/Map/TLFTutorials/tlftutorials-handmade-silver-gelatin-emulsions.htm
(a combination of text, illustrations, and short videos.) I hope they help you get started. It really is a lot of fun and can be very, very simple.
d

Joe VanCleave · Nov 13, 2014

drgoose said:
...Why choose wet plate with the time limitations plus the risk of either blowing yourself up or poisoning yourself with cadmium or cyanide. I know that if handle properly the risks is small but it is not zero...Joaquin

I'm pondering taking a stab at the Rockland gelatin emulsion dry tintype process. As I read their online information, the 3rd part of the 3-part tin type developer contains the cyanide compound. I believe it combines with the developed silver to produce a white color instead of black, visible against a black substrate as a positive image.

This differs from the older collodion wetplate tin type process in that it used the cyanide in the fixing bath instead of the developer. Although I wonder if anyone has tried pouring the part 3 of Rockland's developer into the hardening fixer bath to simulate the earlier wet plate method.

Anyhoo, I'll be following this thread for more advice as I get closer to taking the leap myself.

~Joe

jp80874 · Nov 14, 2014

Take a look at our own Andrew Moxom's award winning video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj9ceWR1a_0&app=desktop

John Powers

Loris Medici · Nov 15, 2014

Gr8 video, enjoyed alot. Thanks for sharing.

Steve Smith · Nov 15, 2014

Is it because wet plates are more sensitive to light than a similar dry coating?

Steve.

wildbillbugman · Nov 16, 2014

The difference in appearance between dry plate and wet plate is subtle and maybe non-existent to some people. Nut other people,like me, can spot the difference immediately. If you are doing people, you should be able to see it in the eyes immediately.

seanjmc · Apr 21, 2015

Light Farm in the house!

why wet over dry plate?

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