Alternative Process Printing

 Modern photographs are also known as silver/gelatin prints because the image is formed from silver metal in a gelatin emulsion.  Almost all silver/gelatin prints are made by using "factory-made" commercial paper.

The processes and techniques that preceded modern silver/gelatin photography were invented or discovered in the 19th century (during the Victorian era). While some of these processes use silver compounds, most of them use compounds of other metals such as platinum, gold, iron, chromiun and uranium. These processes are called "alternative processes" because they are an alternative to the look of modern silver/gelatin prints.

The alternative process printer must mix his own sensitizer and processing chemicals from stock chemical compounds, and coat his own paper. Since prints are not made by projection enlargement, large negatives -- the size of the finished print -- must be created for contact printing. Thus, the techniques require greater skill than does silver/gelatin photography.

While it is difficult to see on the web, alternative process prints do not look anything at all like silver/gelatin prints. Most alternative processes result in prints of greater tonal range than silver/gelatin prints and greater permanence as well. For these reasons, alternative processes are valued by fine art photographers.

For anyone interested in alternative printing, the following sources are recommended: