WORKSHOP – VAN DYKE BROWN / ARGYROTYPE, TORSTEN WIECZOREK

Arndt & Troos developed the Van Dyke Brown process in 1889. This late 19th Century process is similar to Cyanotype as an iron-based printing out process.

Within the whole world of iron-based processes, printing in platinum / palladium stands for supreme quality and permanence, but the expense of these options deters many practitioners from attempting them. At the other end of the iron-alternative scale is the cyanotype process, providing an image in Prussian blue: it is truly inexpensive but limited by a colour that is rather strident for some tastes and subject matter. In the center stand the iron-based silver printing processes such as Van Dyke Brown or Argyrotypes, which can aspire to the qualities of platinum without its expense – but also without its certain permanence. Iron-silver processes are useful as an introduction to alternative printing for teaching workshops, for proofing large format negatives, and as a starting point for further toning of the colloidal silver image.

Arndt & Troos developed the Van Dyke Brown process in 1889. This late 19th Century process is similar to Cyanotype as an iron-based printing out process. However, as the name suggests, you get a lovely rich warm color instead of the Cyanotype’s blue. The composition of the Van Dyke Brown emulsion is with the addition of silver nitrate that the unique brown colour is achieved. Although the silver content requires that the Van Dyke print needs to be thoroughly processed, fixed and washed, it opens up additional toning options. In this one-day workshop, you will learn to create the emulsion, produce photographic pictures. You will explore coating techniques, the different characteristics of and learn to tone your images in gold toner.

Part 1

• What is a Van Dyke Brown print?
• Science behind Van Dyke Brown printing
• How to make Van Dyke Brown prints

Part 2

• Photo emulsions for Van Dyke Brown and Argyrotypes
• Photo papers
• About negatives
• Toning