albumen print combines beaten egg whites with salt and potassium iodide for a higher definition photograph.
Ingredients:
Sizing/salting solution
- 12 eggs or enough for 500ml of egg whites
- 15-g ammonium chloride or salt
- 15-ml distilled water
- 2-ml 28% acetic (glacial) acid
- 2 drops Kodak PhotoFlo (optional)
- 37.5-g silver nitrate
- 250-ml distilled water
- 2 drops 6.5-7% potassium dichromate (optional contrast control)
Preparing the albumen:
1. separate the egg whites from the rest of the egg
2. Pour the 500-ml of egg whites, 2-ml of 28% acetic acid, 15-ml of distilled water and 15-g of ammonium chloride into a large glass bowl.
3. Beat the mixture with a whisk for a minimum of 30 minutes. The longer the mixture is beaten, the finer the suspended air bubbles will become until nothing is left but a fine froth.
4. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave it in the refrigerator overnight. ( a dirty frith will form at the top)
5. Remove the froth the next morning and filter the remaining albumen with a cheesecloth, folding it 2-3 times.
6. Pour into a labeled glass jar and add kodak photo flo (optional) to avoid bubbles from forming
7. Age the mixture in the refrigerator for a week to further denature it.
Coating the Paper:
1. Pour the albumen mixture into a glass casserole dish and remove any bubbles
2. Place a sheet of lightweight paper, front side down, on the surface of the albumen and float the paper on the mixture for three minutes. The edges of the paper, which will curl up and away from the surface of the liquid, can be pushed down SLIGHTLY to ensure proper contact.
3. After three minutes have expired, use a toothpick to lift one corner of the paper, and lift the sheet from the surface of the albumen, allowing the liquid to drain
4. Hang the paper lengthwise, blotting off any excess as the coating dries. A toothpick works well to pop or scrape away any surface bubbles and to squeegee the thick edge, which will form at the bottom of the paper.
Double Coating:
use one of the following methods for a glossier finish on your photo
- fully steam the coated paper,
- thoroughly warm the paper with an iron or mounting press, protecting the coating with a sheet of dry, clean mount board,
- allow the paper to sit in a warm place for several weeks or
- immerse the paper in an isopropyl alcohol/salt solution.
Sensitizing the Paper:
you should start this process as soon as the paper is dry
rubber gloves and safety glasses are recommended
Carry out the following procedure in a subdued room lighting
1. In an amber glass bottle with a plastic top mix 37.5-g of silver nitrate with 250-ml of distilled water to make a 15% solution.
2. Store the sensitizer in a cool, dark place. The precipitate should settle overnight
Floating and Coating (method 1)
1.Pour 15% silver nitrate solution into a flat-bottomed tray.
2.Float the coated paper on the surface of the solution for three minutes, avoiding air bubbles.
3.Peel the paper from the surface, and hang to dry.
Toning:
If a print tone other than ugly orange is desired, a toner should be used.
The only chemical that is absolutely required for processing albumen paper is plain non-hardening (sodium thiosulfate) fixer.
Two fixing baths are recommended, using the typical rotation method to avoid exhaustion of the fixer. Possible toners are two-part gold thiocyanate, gold borax, or selenium
Samuel Bourne, 1869
Charles Marville, 1865
Edouard Denis Baldus, 1858
