What is a Platinum Print ?

The classic 19th century Platinum print method is one of the first photographic printing processes.

Platinum metals allow for an intense expansion in tonal range from the deep blacks to the bright whites giving incredible detail in both the shadow and highlight areas. With the extra rich tones and the fine detail, Platinum prints have a three-dimensional quality.

The Process:

Printing in Platinum is a direct negative contact print process (each print is the size of the negative). Large format cameras are used such as, 4x5, 8x10, 11x14 and larger. Special care is taken to create an excellent negative with good density. The negative is the crucial part of a Platinum print, since the print quality is only as good as the negative. There is no dodging, burning or manipulation to create the final print.

The metals (a combination of Platinum and Palladium) in liquid form, are painted on to a high quality paper with a soft Hake brush. I personally prefer watercolor and various handmade Japanese papers to create my prints. The negative and coated paper are then exposed under a UV light source (the sun or light box).

Although the negative can be used many times, Platinum prints can be considered one of a kind since each one is individually created by hand. The differences are in the coating of the paper and visual brush strokes on the edges, the types of papers used, and the humidity which affects the contrast.

These prints are considered the most archival of all print processes, which makes them appealing to the most selective of collectors.