Inkjet paper negatives
2020-10-05
Using oil
Using this method preparing for the cyanotype process, but it is adaptable for others.
Basic process
- Image is inverted and prepared for printing.
- Generic standard 80gsm plane paper.
- Printed with settings for plain paper, standard resolution and monochrome.
- On the backside of the paper. Use generic spray cooking oil.
- Spread with a brush. Repeat till even or satisfied with transparency -it doesn't take much oil till its transparent but results may vary on oil/paper.
- Ensure oil is spread well and dry or risk staining the paper during printing.
Thoughts on process and outcomes
- Not as sharp as transparency film.
- Denser than transparency film. Exposure times are longer.
- I normally expose transparency film for an hour in the shade for indirect light minimizing blurring.
- Paper negatives needed around an hour and half in shade.
- Painterly imperfections - oil splodges had a texture to the resulting image.
- Flipping the image for ink to emulsion contact results in less imperfections.
- Overtime the oil dries within the paper negative, becoming denser. They have a short life span, maybe a week or so. I imagine in certain conditions the oil could go rancid if long term storage was desired -but you could just print and oil another negative.
Example outcome with the cyanotype process