ALTERNATIVE PROCESSING - Platinum & Palladium

[Jeff D. Welker]

Saturday I had the opportunity to attend a Platinum/Palladium printing workshop at the Art Intersection in Gilbert with our colleague and friend Scott Youmans. It was a wonderful experience to craft these unique images with mine own hands. The workshop was lead by master platinum/palladium printer and fine art photographer Ryuijie. As a side note, Ryuijie's work is amazing and I highly recommend you visit the Art Intersection Ryan Gallery (free admission) to see his work in person.

We submitted three digital images to Ryuijie several weeks ago and he created "digital negatives" for our contact printing work. Digital negatives are simply negatives produced by an Epson injet printer on a clear plastic material I compared to the clear stuff used with overhead projectors. Our negatives were sized as 5x7's, but you could make them as big or as small as your injet printer could accommodate. We'd coat our paper with either a platinum or palladium solution, dry it, and then place one of our negatives on top in a contact printing frame. The frame is place in a UV exposure box. Exposure times were typically in the 3 to 5 minute range. You then take the exposed paper out an place it in a tray of developer. Unlike traditional silver-based printing, these platinum/palladium prints appear almost instantly in the developer. After 30-seconds you run your print through several "clearing" baths/trays and ultimately place the print in an archival washer for 15-30 minutes - then air dry.

I've scanned and attached one of my platinum prints. Please be advised that this scan doesn't due the platinum/palladium process justice because; 1) I have a very mediocre scanner; and 2) I'm still learning, so my print is not as good as it could be. Properly done, platinum and palladium prints are absolutely magical and have a beautiful glow and subtle tonality. The also have nearly unlimited permanence. It was a terrific experience I hope to pursue going forward. I hope Scott will post one or two of his prints as he did better than I. As a side note, Scott and I were the only participants with airplane images. We got a lot of compliments and questions. Ryuijie served in the Navy during the Vietnam War and was stationed on Guam as a rescue diver. With his background, he found our airplane images especially interesting.

[Tower Guy]

That is a phenomenal result Jeff, truly aviation art.

[Jeff D. Welker]

That is a phenomenal result Jeff, truly aviation art.

Thanks Harvey. While I never would look down my nose at any method a shooter may choose for making prints, this platinum/palladium alternative strikes a strong cord for me. For the first time in a long time I felt like I was making art, even though I've printed that same Mystere image via inkjet and liked it very much.

[Anna M. Wood]

Wow....  It must be phenomenal looking in person.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

[Jay Beckman]

Very well done Mr. Jeff...

I applaud your diligence pursuing this technique.