[alt-photo] Metalotype

[C.Breukel at lumc.nl]

Got this mail form Mike Ware some time ago (I am on a mailing list of
mike, guess some people already heard about it). Anyway: food for
thought I guess....

Cor

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>

Metalotype:  Metal-jet Printing


The current practice of Hybrid Digital-Alternative Printing involves
making large negatives digitally with an inkjet printer, in order to
contact-print them photographically onto hand-coated 'alternative'
sensitized papers of the 'single-layer' category, such as cyanotype,
argyrotype, palladiotype, platinotype and chrysotype.


With the advance of digital printing technology, this wasteful and
complex procedure could soon become redundant: to obtain an identical
result, it would only be necessary to fill an inkjet printer cartridge
with a solution of Chemical A, and print the 'potential image' onto a
sheet of fine paper. This would then be 'developed' in a solution of
Chemical B, which reacts with Chemical A to produce the desired image
substance in situ, probably in nanoparticle form; the print is then
washed and dried. Depending on the choice of Chemicals A and B, the
result could be a plain paper print in: Prussian blue, silver,
palladium, platinum or gold, with the image substance embedded in the
surface fibres of the paper, just the same as hand-coated siderotypes
printed photochemically - and laboriously - from negatives.


Such prints should be indistinguishable in their chemical and physical
structure from those made by the  traditional methods.
I suggest the names Metal-jet Printing or Metalotype for this procedure.
It would have the following advantages:


1) It would eliminate all the alternative photographic paraphernalia: no
UV light sources, printing frames or vacuum easels,  coating implements,
safe lighting, photosensitive chemicals, etc. This might encourage more
digital photographers to try 'alternative' image substances and fine
papers.


2) It would eliminate the large internegative - which is costly in
ceramic-coated film and pigment printer inks.


3) The wet processing procedure would be simple, reusable, economic, and
eco-friendly.


4) For a print of an 'average scene', it would consume less than one
tenth of the amount of precious metal required at present, because none
is washed away in the processing. Saving over 90% of the cost of
platinum, palladium, silver, or gold would be a significant benefit
which could widen the appeal and use of these precious metals as print
media.


The possibilities do not end there, however: because there is no need
for the imaging system to be photochemical, a wide range of simple
chemical reactions - by metathesis or by reduction-oxidation - could be
employed to make digital photographic prints on plain paper in all sorts
of stable pigments never previously usable; for instance, the insoluble
sulphides, selenides, chromates, and iodides  of various heavy metals
such as lead, bismuth, mercury, cadmium or silver. Besides the familiar
Prussian blue, other coloured ferrocyanides and ferricyanides are
possible. In addition to the traditional platinum, palladium and gold,
the other 'noble' metals could be reduced, as images in rhenium,
ruthenium, rhodium, osmium and iridium (should anyone wish to do so).
Three-colour printing should also be possible. Other metals and more
exotic pigments will suggest themselves to the inventive chemist as
potential image substances, but the chemistry required is mostly
elementary - CM 101.


The difficulties could be expected to arise with achieving an
appropriate rheology of the "ink" solution of Chemical A for the
piezoelectric printheads, by adjusting its surface tension and viscosity
parameters for the best distribution in the cellulose paper fibres.
Doubtless these are deep commercial secrets, already well-understood by
the manufacturers of printer inks. A benefit would come from the "ink"
being a true solution, not a particulate suspension, so there would be
no problems of clogged printheads; there may however be issues of
corrosion and toxicity with some chemicals.


Is there anyone out there with the technical know-how to convert an
inkjet printer to this use? I'm just amazed that it seems not to have
been done already. A chemically-dedicated inkjet printer could simply
eliminate the negative and the photochemistry. This is the logical end
result of 'hybrid practices' using digital technology. Unless one chose
to embrace pure analogue photographic practice, it would be time to bid
farewell to all siderotypes!
(Meanwhile, I continue to make them...)
Mike Ware, March 2010






Dr Mike Ware
20 Bath Road
Buxton
Derbyshire
SK17 6HH
UK


+44 (0)1298 78604
mike at mikeware.co.uk
http://www.mikeware.co.uk