Making Platinum Prints

PHIX brings us this fascinating video on making platinum prints or platinotypes. Essentially a monochrome (B&W) printing process that provides the greatest (and most delicate) tonal range, surface quality and permanence of any printing method using chemical development. Unlike the silver print process, platinum lies on the paper surface, while silver lies in a gelatin or albumen emulsion that coats the paper. As a result, since no gelatin emulsion is used, the final platinum print is absolutely matte with a deposit of platinum and can last thousands of years - it also doesn't curl! The downside is the DMax (in this context, the blackest black) is lighter than that of silver prints.

Making the Platinum Prints