Getting Over Platinum
Gum/Palladium Printing
with Bill Schwab
May 7 – 11 2024
Photostock Workshop –
Cross Village, Michigan
It has been said that once you see a gum bichromate over platinum or palladium print that you’ll never look at a plain platinum print as finished ever again. It gives a depth and control of color that is unmatched by platinum/palladium printing alone.
Please join me in Michigan’s north woods at a beautiful time of year for an in-depth exploration into the wonderful world of gum/platinum printing, a photographic method that takes perhaps the most beautiful and permanent platinum/palladium process to an even higher level. A hand-made photographic process that involves creating a light sensitive emulsions on fine water color paper and processing it through light and chemistry.
We will be working first in the palladium process as base levels for printing and then adding gum layers later on with some experimentation with adding cyanotype to the mix as well. However, emphasis will be on building gum layers to compliment the palladium.
Unlike the shorter 3-day workshops usually offered here, this workshop will cover 5 days with a finish and cleanup day at the end. This will give each student more time to further explore the process and refine their technique. Each student will have plenty of one-on-one instruction that will be geared toward each individual’s current capability. The objective is to get people hands-on experience printing which is the best way to learn. Standing around watching an instructor print will only get you so far and we want everyone printing on their own as soon as possible.
You need no prior experience of the process to join in because, although the process can be a bit intimidating in all of its finer details, this course will get the novice up and running while giving the experienced printer a chance to explore further. It gives the student a chance to work with the process right away without all of the trappings of collecting needed equipment, materials and chemistry. And, once you’re hooked, it will be easy for you to navigate your way through working with the process in your own studio.
Your course fee includes your lab fees which will include 15ml of palladium per student. Extra palladium can be purchased at an added fee should the student wish more, but 15 ml is a lot of prints and should cover the course. All other chemistry will be provided*** including a couple of working negatives from your files, prints or negatives to get you started. And, thanks to the good people at Hahnemüle, all paper will be provided as well! We will be printing on their fantastic Platinum Rag paper which is specifically designed for this process and more.
Once registered, I will work with you to get a couple of images digitized and made into negatives to get you started printing right away. You will leave the workshop with some very fine prints as well as possessing enough knowledge to get started your own from a position of experience. This will also help prepare you for other, more advanced classes that I and others run. .
Some of the topics to be covered in this workshop will include:
- Making Digital Negatives with QTR
- Hand-coating techniques
- Characteristics of different papers
- Contrast control techniques
- Materials suppliers
- Print and negative retouching
- Options for UV light sources
Getting Here and Lodging
When visiting here, your closest airport option is Pellston, Michigan (PLN). Next is Traverse City (TVC) which is about 80 miles to our south. We are located north of Harbor Springs, Michigan near the tiny lakeside, Cross Village.
There are many options in our area for both food and lodging including in nearby Cross Village at the new Spirit Lake Lodge. There are also many VRBO options available. Please use Harbor Springs/Good Hart and Cross Village in your search.
Class Fee: 1450.00 (includes materials , chemistry, pigment, paper, and Richieson 9010 (magic) brush***)
REGISTER
Questions can be addressed via the Contact Page.
***Each participant will receive 15ml of palladium chloride solution, 15 ml ferric oxalate, 20 sheets of OHP film for negatives and paper courtesy of the good people at Hahnemühle. More palladium will be available for purchase, but the amount supplied will go a long way in this workshop.
When registered, you will receive a letter explaining the how, where, when and why of it all. Lodging/food suggestions as well. We are located in a beautiful part of northern Michigan and will do what we can to make your stay more than just a workshop. ***Class size is limited to 6.
For all Alternative Process workshops, Bill Schwab
uses the fine papers made by Hahnemühle.
