A recipe for Inkjet Gelatin Transfer

The following post is a letter describing the process which I used in

my current uploaded photographs, and the Arrhenphobia series which can

be viewed as a presentation.

 

I was not sure where to put this, alternative process or digital. I

finally decided on alternative process, because the process itself is

not in the digital darkroom. If the Mod feels that this is

inapropriate, please note my disagreement and relocate.

 

I also want to point out that I am not trying to replace polaroid! the

results an process is similar, but not at all the same.

 

-------------------

 

The reason that you did not find much is because I am only one of two

people that i know of anyway that have any sizeable body of work. A

NYC fashion photographer I knew named Jessica worked with a solvent

based inkjet transfer, I used water. My process is paper specific,

hers was not. Mine looks more like a polaroid, hers have a more

"flaked" apperance. Both our processes were more successful than

previous experimenters as the coating, or "emulsion" was lifted and

transfered, and not the ink alone, so, more ink is transfered more

accuratly and evenly, resulting in rich blacks, something most

alcohol/turpintine/acetone processes lack.

 

Jessica kept her method top secret, I don't.

 

I will tell you how I did it, I do not know if the paper is still

available, and if it is if it has or has not been reformulated.

 

In college I was for a period trying new papers, I found the

strathmore line of inkjet papers. These papers had a very thick

coating. One particularly so, Strathmore Photo Matte, which appeared

to be made from a gelatine.

 

When I printed on it, the blacks became very buldged with lots of

gain, resulting in a speckled appearance. To remidy i tried washing

the print under the faucet. It worked to some degree, and gave it an

interesting bleached effect as well, though, I was not satisfied with

the results.

 

However, I did notice that the gelatine coating was swolen and appeard

to lift from the page. It had a slippery, slimey feel and appeared

thicker than it was when it was dry. If scratched with a fingernail,

the coaiting and ink would come off onto your finger in what looked

very similar to household gelatine.

 

In the previous semester John Paul Caponigro brought out a acetone

transfer from a color laser print. I was not impressed, but i knew

instantly that it had potential.

 

A few days later i went to the hardware store to buy a heavy

galvanized pipe to use as a rolling pin, a rolling pin would work too,

but i did not think of it at the time. I also bought a black

rubber/plastic tub, about five gallons.

 

I brought them back to my dorm, soaked a print for about 5 minutes and

pressed it to some inexpensive hot pressed water color paper of fairly

high density.

 

The transfered image was very dim, and appeared that the gelatine did

not adhere to the paper properly. For some reason it occured to me

that the paper would become more available if it were soaked as well,

along with the print. So I put a peice of the paper in the water and

let it soak until it became soft.

 

I then removed one of my windows and placed it on the floor. I also

took the stand which held up my laundry basket and placed several

window screens on it to use to dry the print. I soaked the paper and

the print together for about eight minutes. I got kind of bored just

sitting there, so i started to adgitate the tub gently, and found that

this further lifted the gelatine but removed some of the magenta ink.

 

I placed the wet peice of water color paper on the peice of glass. I

noticed that the print kept sliding around, resulting in smudgy

images. I also noticed that the back of the print slightly stuck to

the pipe I was using.

 

On the next transfer I stuck the bottom of the back of the print on

the pipe and pressed it firmly against the water color paper. The

print adhered to the paper, and I was able to roll without problem.

 

I noticed after a while the gelitin stopped oozing from the sides, and

I figured that was enough as all the gelatine was transfered into the

water color paper.

 

I pulled the paper apart, it was suprisingly stuck together, but not

so much that the original would rip. The result, a perfectly

transfered print on the water color paper, and a very, very faint

image on the original with virtually all the gelatine coating removed.

 

The transfered image has very fine patterns where the two were pulled

apart, and the results can be very depthy and rich, but fine detail is

completely lost in the process. The image is waterproof, and has not

faded in four years, but is kept in a box at all times.

 

I found that if you take a brush gently over the entire image, little

is lost, but a color cast will be applied to the frame. The quality

also changes somewhat, the texture is smoothed out, and sometimes

brush strokes are left behind (Self Portrait Six)

 

The transfer is then left to dry face up, on coastal maine this took

about twelve hours. The transfer is then pressed and matted.

 

If you try this, PLEASE let me see what you come up with. It may be

possible to coat your own paper using multiple coats using household

or photographic/laboratory gelatine.

I just remembered that I used dilluted india ink over the entire image to tone it (Self Portrait Two and Seven in particular), this is actually how the background was shaded, and not by pulling ink from the image...

The process sounds interesting but you should attach one or two examples to this thread. Sometime in the future you might wish to change your existing photo.net portfolio and, lacking examples, this text-only description would be of lesser value.

Lex-

 

Good idea, I did not think of that, I will post now ;)<div></div>

I've taken the liberty of attaching this image from your folder to this thread. It's a very striking example of the technique you've described. (If you prefer I'll delete it.)<div></div>

lex- That is the image I wanted, though i selected the wrong one.

I have been doing "color transfer" as I call it for about a year now with great results (www.hubcaparte.com).

 

I also started out doing Xerox transfer using acetone and wondered about doing it with inkjet prints. Most papers, especially matte papers won't transfer at all. I found the cheaper and glossier the paper, the better it works.

 

I only wet the paper the transfer is going to, not the inkjet paper. I also use Matte Medium as a transfer agent with GREAT results. You have to play with it though because to much medium will wash out dark colors. I use a borrowed etching press to make transfers, as well as using brayers.

 

Also, unless using archival inks, teh transfered image will fade quickly, especially the magenta. Use BullDog spray (available at inkjetart.com or something similar to "seal" teh image. I use the matte version of the spray. Can't even tell its there.

 

Will

I'm dabbling in transfer prints right now using digital images and I think one of the

three transfer methods will give a new look to an old series of prints of mine.

 

I like the easy brush on gel, transfer color xerox to fine paper method.

How long do I leave the gel on before turning over onto the good paper, or do I need

to turn it over on the paper and apply pressure and for how long?

 

I also like the easy acetone print from a color xerox. Should I try to tape the xerox

down first to prevent so much smudging? Should I brush the acetone on or pour on?

Is pressure needed?

 

A third method you'll probably all like.

You use T-Shirt transfer paper on the inkjet, and just heat transfer onto any fine art

paper. A friend tells me it has a funky texture when you peel it up, I guess depending

on what you ironed it onto, and has a super nice fine art feel thats a sure thing every

time.

 

Finally, what would you call these types of prints?

They should have a snazzy method oriented name, but I don't know what I would call

them specifically when I display them. People seem to like that the method be called

something. Any ideas?