AlternativePhotography.com

Historical photographic methods in use today – the art, processes and techniques of alternative photography

I tried my first attempts at using liquid emulsion last week, sandpaper and canvas were a great success but I had less luck with leather, which is the medium I would really like to use.

The prints developed well but started to lift away from the skin in the second fixer bath and just 30 seconds in water saw larger sections lifting and I removed it. What is left looks great but probably won't last long as it wasn't rinsed properly.

I understand that photographic gelatin can be used to prime porous surfaces and polyurethane varnish for non-porous but I'm not sure which one to try. Logic tells me that leather is porous but the problem of the emulsion lifting would indicate that it wasn't keyed to the surface properly and I should treat it as a non-porous surface.

My tutor says this process should be possible as Fox Talbot used leather to print on but I have been unable to find any information on this and wondered if any of you have any experience of printing on leather.

I think you'd be correct in trying to use a polyurethane or gelatin. I would try first with the spray, and you should do multiple coats with it. I'm not so sure how the gelatin would adhere to the leather. Also, you could use a rubber cement type like Mod Pod and see where that will take you too.

Hi, how did you get on with the leather printing? i am going to start experimenting with the same process in a couple of weeks and some advice would be really appreciated!
i was working with leather before but just screen printing.
wendy