New, safe pigment process

Mike Ware (mike@mikeware.demon.co.uk)
Mon, 10 Apr 1995 09:00:10 +0000

One answer to the worries expressed recently about dichromate toxicity has
just appeared on the market: a new, non-toxic pigment process, developed in
the UK by Dr Dunstan Perera. It uses neither dichromate nor gum, but a
modern photopolymer (identity not disclosed) which hardens in UV light.
Dunstan has called this the Heliochrome Process, which is not a new name,
of course, but since it honours Niepce, perhaps Luis will forgive the usage
(8-)

There is an illustrated step-by-step description of the Heliochrome process
in the current UK weekly, Amateur Photographer (8th April '95, pp 50-52),
from which it appears that the modus operandi is very similar to gumbi. The
kit (containing paper sealant, activator and six toners) costs 45 UKP
(enough for 15 12x16 inch prints) and is obtainable from:

FilmPlus
216 Kensington Park Road
London W11

Tel: +44 (0)171 727 1111

Dunstan has been researching this process for many years, and although I
have not used it, the results I have seen are very fine.
I should add the usual disclaimer that I have no commercial interest in the
sale of this product.

Mike