“Three Barbie Camisole Nightgowns” by Francis Schanberger
Country: USA
Parts used: Leaves
Application: Brushing
Exposure time: 56 minutes
Month, season and year: August, summer, 2022, noontime
Substrate: Heavyweight Fabriano Artistico Cold Press from the 1990’s, about 640 gsm coated with gesso.
Contrast of final print: ** (Medium)
Amount: About 15 cc for each layer of 20 cm x 29 cm; estimated 105 cc for a dark green emulsion on 20 cm x 29 cm with 7 layers
Extracted using: Mortar Pestle with 90 percent alcohol.
Thinner: 90 percent alcohol (Everclear, 180 proof)
Layers: 7
Used to create image: Transparent (sheer) fabric (tule), Barbie doll clothes
Challenges or observations:
The pigment is not water-soluble, so it must be applied after decanting from pestle. It can be reduced in a sauce pan to minimize the number of layers (coats). Since it is suspended in alcohol, I used gesso as a barrier to keep it from moving through the paper (i.e. it was coated on watercolor paper treated with a surface of gesso and brushed right on top of the dried gesso). Very fast and easy to overexpose. Also requires a lot of attention, use of high proof alcohol and gesso as a base on the paper.
Instagram: @francisschanberger
Additional information: The fastest emulsion I have made. It easily exposed with as little as 5-10 minutes with noon day sun in the summer. Brush the paper with gesso (and dry) prior to applying pigment. Be prepared for several brushings (let dry in between layers). I haven’t made this emulsion since 2013, so I was expecting at least two days of Ohio sun exposure. I was surprised when the ground turned white after 5 minutes. Don’t take your eye off of this one during exposure.
This anthotype is part of World Anthotype Day
World Anthotype Day - celebrated annually since 2022 was started by AlternativePhotography.com. Our global community of artists celebrates the anthotype process by submitting prints. These works are added to our database here and compiled into reference books. The purpose is to build a large resource where artist can learn which pigments and plants work and draw inspiration from others. The reference books can be found here:
Volume 1 is the first book in the series:
Volume 1 contains 60 unique anthotype emulsions from 103 artists taking part from 31 countries.
Volume 3 pushes the boundaries with emulsions not only from plants and pigments, but also from beans, moss and mushrooms. 135 artists shared their research.
In Volume 4 we will combine entries from both 2025 and 2026 into one beautiful double edition to include even more inspiring work, insights, and pigments to explore. The release for the combined World Anthotype Day book is planned for November 2026 – a richer, more comprehensive collection worth the wait.
Anthotype Emulsions, Volume 4 – The collective research from photographers on World Anthotype Day 2025 and 2026
If you want to learn more about making anthotypes there is also the first "how-to" book:
Make prints using plants - an environmentally safe process!
Discover how 140+ artists bring colour to traditionally monochrome processes. This book explores pigments, chemistry, layering, and experimentation through real working examples.
Combines inspiration and learning!
A fusion of moments and visions from artists working in alternative photographic processes – featuring 90+ inspirational alternative photographic processes images.
Highly creative!
Step into a world where light, chemistry, and creativity collide. 137 artists push the boundaries of alternative photography, with processes like cyanotype, gum, and platinum printing to create unique, handcrafted images. They showcase their work, insights, and inspiration.
• Open for entries in August – 31st of October 2026, midnight, your own timezone
• The mission is to find unusual emulsions
• Get published in our this year's book!
Anthotype Day is free and open to all. Volunteers work for free. So, please help us crowd-fund the event. Any donation helps.
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Amount: About 15 cc for each layer of 20 cm x 29 cm; estimated 105 cc for a dark green emulsion on 20 cm x 29 cm with 7 layers
Rated 9,8 - based on 224 votes
Rated 10 - based on 8 votes
World Anthotype Day
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