Re: Autochromes

robert hudyma (rhudyma@idirect.com)
Tue, 19 Sep 1995 10:50:25 -0400

Thank-you all for responding to the original post. I'm off to the
reference library this weekend to do some digging.

It's clear that duplicating the original process could take a
lifetime. Nonetheless, its worthwhile getting together a
collection of reference material to understand exactly the
nature of the challenge.

One person suggested that he achieved this effect by pushing
some fast transparancy film. I think that this technique is worthwhile
to persue since it is straightforward and may yield other interesting
colour "palettes" which could be beautiful in their own right.
Some fashion images in the late 1960's by Sarah Moon come to mind.

Luis Nadeau suggested that a Photoshop filter might be constructed
to emulate this effect. This too is a worthwhile approach.

I've been thinking about this a while and a possible experimental
approach comes to mind. Instead of using the "tricky starch grains"
as the separation filter, why not expose a colour transparancy film
(ie. 4x5 Velvia) and make a 1:1 (or so) photo of the tricoloured dots of my
computer screen. This has some appeal, since I can adjust the intensity
of the dots (ie screen colour) and I can adjust the size magnification so
that the dots can be any arbitrary size. (Or even better have photoshop
generate an appropriate pattern that mimicks the size, shape and distribution
of the Autochome starch grains and output this to a transparancy film).

The E6 film would then be processed normally resulting in a reuseable filter.
The image would be taken by sandwiching the filter with an ordinary b&w
film emulsion to emulsion. (taking care to pin register or have targets in the
corner of the filter film to ensure subsequent alignment).

The b&w film would be developed as a transparancy and would be carefully
sandwiched back together with its filter. (the alignment could be real tricky
but should be manageable with a 4x5).

The above technique has some merit to me since it uses off-the-shelf
contemporary materials and I can have some initial results without investing
an entire lifetime. The costs to do the experiment are rather modest too.

Anyone have any further thoughts?

Robert Hudyma Internet: rhudyma@idirect.com

Robert Hudyma rhudyma@idirect.com