Gum bichromates

Figure 4. Six Layer (CMYKLCLM) Gum Bichromate Print on Fabriano Artistico Cold Press Paper

A Non-Toxic Gelatin-acrylic Sizing for Gum Bichromate and Other Processes

Gelatin-acrylic sizing provides a reliable, non-toxic alternative to traditional paper sizing for gum bichromate printing. Marek Matusz explains how combining gelatin with acrylic medium improves adhesion, reduces pigment staining, and produces consistent multi-layer prints. He compares several formulas, recommends his preferred mixture, and shows how the sizing also works well for cyanotype, palladium, and gum-over prints. Writer and photography / Marek Matusz WARNING: This is for experienced and advanced users. … Read more

My Smith-Victor A-12 in use, exposing a 6x9 print. This is a convenient way for me to create preliminary images in preparation for larger work. I use the sun for larger pieces and have done so for over 30 years. This style of lamp and the sun might work for you!

Simpler Lighting for Gum Printing

Gum printer and educator Peter J. Blackburn shares two simple, experience-based tips for making gum bichromate printing more approachable. He challenges unnecessarily complicated workflows and shows two options for lighting: The sun and indoors. Writer and photography / Peter J. Blackburn There is no shortage of instructions and opinions for creating gum prints, my writings included. But it seems the more I print, the more I learn, and the more … Read more

Suzanne Izzo Salt print

Suzanne Izzo

Suzanne Izzo, a Washington, DC-based artist, blends experimental techniques like gum bichromate, cyanotype, and skiatype, crafting abstract, pattern-rich works showcased in galleries and international alternative photography exhibits. From: Washington, DC, USA Shows: Cyanotypes, Gum bichromates, Salt prints and VanDyke Suzanne Izzo was introduced to photography as a child by her father and worked with him to produce silver gelatin prints in their basement darkroom. Many years later while clearing out … Read more

Gum Portraits on BFK Rives: A Paper to Embrace

Peter J. Blackburn once again gives face time to the gum-printing virtues of unmodified BFK Rives. Give it a try? Writer and photography / Peter J. Blackburn So, here I am again, touting the amazing and bedazzling BFK Rives printmaking paper for gum prints. This time, I present you with five portraits printed in different styles on unaltered, unshrunk, right-out-of-the-package BFK Rives. If you missed my first article exploring gum … Read more

Density

Multilayer Printing Techniques Gum Printing techniques

Calvin Grier shows us how gum printing with multiple layers and one development works – also process which also works with Calvin’s PrintMaker’s Friend! Writer and photography / Calvin Grier If I were to coat a sheet of paper with a thick layer of gum or PrintMaker’s Friend (PrintMaker’s Friend is a non-toxic drop-in substitute for gum and dichromate) and a high concentration of pigment and then expose it with … Read more

BFK Rives for Gum Printing? Seeing is Believing

Peter J. Blackburn has found his favorite gum bichromate paper. One that he used to shun. And one that needs no sizing. Writer and photography / Peter J. Blackburn Gum printing for me began in 1988. From the beginning, I ignored the advice of many gum experts to use toxic sizing by searching for ways to print bright, crisp gum prints on unaltered paper. “BFK Rives was the very first … Read more

Two Prints in Process, 2023  This pair of gum prints (still in process) have already received three layers of color with more to come. No added sizing. I am using only a 3% potassium dichromate solution. Colors include PY151, PO62, PG18, PV19, PR254, PB29 and PBr7. Notice the clean whites.

The Gum Printing Papers – synthetic sizing

Peter J. Blackburn begins a two-part informal “white paper” discussing synthetic sizing while reviewing two papers that use sizing and one that doesn’t! Writer and photography / Peter J. Blackburn Once again, the time has come to write about some wonderful watercolor papers currently available, which I find to work quite well for gum and casein bichromate printing. Those who have read my introductory gum printing articles know that applying … Read more

Figure #1 - Cecina river #1 One layer of forest green, hand painted with (mostly) iridescent watercolors and dry pigments, a clear layer to fix pigments and a last very light layer of indanthrone blue to deepen the shadows and the water. It is printed on plywood sized with acrylic gesso and zinc white. It is interesting because it is quite evident how SbQ can be used even in multiple layers without staining. Please note that no clearing bath has been used, and final rinsing was minimum, just a minute or so in cold water.

Zerochrome-SbQ – A viable alternative to chromium salts in pigmented colloid printing

Simone Simoncini and Kees Brandenburg explore a new non-toxic method for pigment polymer printing. as an alternative to using the toxic dichromates. Writer and photography / Simone Simoncini and Kees Brandenburg Our motive In this article, we share the results we have obtained with a new emulsion for pigment printing to be used as a serious alternative to dichromates. It shows very interesting features in terms of stability, shelf life, … Read more

Calvin Grier Techinical Guide to Gum printing

Technical Guide to Gum Printing

by Calvin Grier If you have worked in the Gum bichromate process for some time and want to take it to the next level, this book could be for you. Buy “Technical Guide to Gum Printing” directly from Calvin Grier More info on Calvins webpage     Suitable for the more experienced gum printer. What is This Book? This book includes detailed step-by-step instructions on how to use the gum … Read more

Hand Colored Gum Prints: When Art and Economics Collide

Whether to save money, time, or to explore creative options in your art, hand colored gum bichromate prints might just be the answer. Writer and photography / Peter J. Blackburn I have always loved film. My first roll was purchased back in 1970. To this very day, almost all of my gum and casein prints begin as a film captured image. And I love film cameras, especially those which require … Read more

Simmone Simnchini gum print

Gum Diazo Printing v1.4

Writers / Maurizio Pizzigoni, Salvatore Abate and Simone Simoncini Research / Mr. Travis Pugh Photography / Simone Simoncini The present paper aims to be a reference guide to anyone in the EU willing to go on printing with pigmented gum while being fully compliant with the actual safety regulations regarding chemical substances (i.e. avoid the use of dichromate, illegal as of September 2017 in the EU). 1) Preface It is well known … Read more

Figure 13: Assembly Pins into the paper Registration Strips

Gum print registration

Instructions to register gum prints. Gum bichromate printing requires multiple pass to get the right density both for black and white and color prints. Here is how. Writer and photography / Andrea Baldi A reliable registration system is helpful to get multiple layers of the gum prints that do not show any misalignment in the different passes. For example, when you expose the second layer in a black & white … Read more

Straining casein for photography

Breast milk and the casein print

Writer and photography / Christina Z. Anderson Christina Z. Anderson – author of Gum printing and other amazing contact printing processes, amongst other books – experiments yet again and this time uses breast milk to make casein prints or cottage cheese. Over the last two decades I have concentrated my photographic practice and research in the area of 19th century photographic processes, most often gum and casein dichromate printing. Casein … Read more

Gum Bichromate Pigment Printing Norman Breslow

Gum Bichromate Pigment Printing – free e-book

Writer and photography / Norman Breslow Norman Breslow very kindly shares his e-book on Gum Bichromate Pigment Printing with us. Free to download, free to pass on. Norman’s e-book and many more are free to download. Don’t miss the chance!

A nice gum paper from an unexpected source!

Peter J. Blackburn gives a quick evaluation of an inexpensive art paper found at your local “big box” retailer! Writer and photography / Peter J. Blackburn Will wonders never cease? A few weeks ago as I made a quick foray into my nearby Walmart, I chanced to wander by the rather quaint art supply section located across from the sewing notions. Stopping to take quick inventory of what the “big … Read more

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