Fotospeed Argyrotype Kit

Sir John Herschel, to whom we owe the achievement of cyanotype, was one of the first to work with printing processes based on iron-silver compounds in the 19th century, which led to the fine printing process of agentotype in 1848, and based on this to callitype and Van Dyke.

The Argyrotype process is a modernized development by fine printing specialist Dr. Mike Ware from 1991.

The Argyrotype Sensitizer used is a non-toxic, ready-to-use single solution with improved shelf life.

As with other historical fine printing processes, it is a Print Out Process (POP)

Negatives, stencils or objects such as plants, created analogously or printed on transparent film, are placed on the paper coated with a light-sensitive solution, fixed using a heavy glass pane, ideally in a contact print frame, and then exposed to a UV light source (sun or UV lamp).

This process produces warm-toned, brown images with a high tonal range.

The kit contains

• Sensitizer 50 ml
• Sodium thiosulfate fixing powder for mixing (140gr)
• 1 measuring cup
• 1 sponge brush
• 1 dosing syringe
• 2 protective vinyl gloves
• 5 sheets of acid-free watercolor paper (Fabriano 5)
• 5 sheets 8x10 inch Fotospeed DC Inkjet Film to print contact negatives
• English instructions

Durability and capacity

The Sensitizer solution will last for at least one year when stored at room temperature in the dark.

The amount of 50ml is enough to produce about 30 pictures 20x25cm.

Quick guide

• Coat paper or fabric with the Argyrotype Sensitizer using a sponge brush or our HAKE Edeldruck brushes.
  Attention: The emulsion is sensitive to UV light and should only be applied in dim room lighting!
  
• Allow the coated paper to dry
• Place your artwork on the dried emulsion
• The exposure is done with UV light in the sun or with a UV lamp
• Development in water for about 5 minutes
• Fixing the image with fixer (sodium thiosulfate or weakly acidic quick fixer Moersch ATS)
• Final watering for about 20 minutes and drying

Tips

• To create negative templates, use our Fotospeed DC inkjet film or SolarFast printing films.
• By applying heat during the drying of the developed paper (e.g. with a thermal press or with a hair dryer), the image color changes from a reddish brown to a more neutral brown-black and becomes slightly darker.

Downloads

> SDS Safety Data Sheet

Information on the disposal of photo chemicals can be found in the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), which you can download below or find on the website of the respective manufacturer.