From Dags to Digital
a history of commercial photographic prints
From DAGS to DIGITAL
An Introduction by Chat GPT and garrie maguire
We invite you to step into a world where art and technology meet, where creativity and precision merge into a dazzling display of photographic craftsmanship. This exhibition showcases the beauty of commercial photographic print processes that became commercial, from the early days of daguerreotype to the cutting-edge techniques of digital printing. Through the lens of history, we witness the evolution of photographic printmaking, the birth of new processes, and the transformation of old ones. We see how the pioneers of photography, Fox Talbot, Louis Daguerre, and many others, paved the way for generations of photographers to come. Marvel at the intricate chemistry of salted paper prints, the warmth of albumen prints, the depth of carbon prints, and the precision of inkjet prints. But this exhibition is more than a celebration of technique and technology. It is a tribute to the creative vision of the photographers who mastered these processes and used them to express their unique perspectives on the world. We see the iconic images of Frank Hurley, the groundbreaking experiments of Ellie Young, the haunting landscapes of Mark Klett, and the powerful social commentary of Aymen Kaake. So come, step into the world of photographic printmaking, and discover the magic that happens when art and technology combine in harmony.
The Processes
Salted Paper Print 1835
Salt printing is a photographic printing process that allowed for multiple prints to be made of the same image. It was invented by British photographer William Henry Fox Talbot in 1835 beating the invention of photography by 4 years. It was part of Talbot’s experiments. It was announced soon after the Paris announcement. The salt printing process involves coating paper with a solution of salt and silver nitrate, which makes the paper light-sensitive. The paper is then exposed to light through a negative, which creates a latent image on the paper. The paper is then washed in water to remove the unexposed silver salt, leaving behind a visible image. The resulting image has a brownish, sepia tone and is characterized by a soft, dreamlike quality. The process was popular in the early years of English photography and was used to create portraits, landscapes, and still life photographs. Today, artists and photographers use the salt printing process to create unique, handmade prints with a vintage aesthetic.
Daguerreotype 1839
The daguerreotype is a photographic process that was invented by French artist Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre in 1839. It was the first publicly available photographic process and announced photography. The daguerreotype process involves exposing a silver-plated copper plate to light through a camera lens. The plate is then developed with mercury vapor, creating a unique image that is etched into the surface of the plate. Daguerreotypes are known for their high level of detail and sharpness, as well as their unique mirror-like surface. The process was particularly popular with photographers who wanted to create portraits. The popularity of the daguerreotype declined in the mid-19th century with the advent of more practical photographic processes, such as the ambrotype and tintype. It remained popular in the USA longer than Europe. Today, the daguerreotype process is rarely used due to the toxicity of the chemicals involved and the complexity of the process.
Cyanotype 1842
Cyanotype is a photographic printing process that was invented by Sir John Herschel in 1842. It was the first non-silver photographic process and is still used today. The cyanotype process involves mixing two chemicals, ammonium iron(III) citrate and potassium ferricyanide, and coating them onto a piece of paper or fabric. The coated surface is then exposed to UV light through a negative or object, creating a bright blue toned image. Cyanotype was popular with architects and engineers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for creating blueprints of designs and plans. It was also used by photographers and artists to create prints of landscapes, botanical specimens, and abstract designs. Today, cyanotype is a popular process among artists and photographers who want to create unique, handmade prints with a vintage aesthetic. The process is relatively simple and requires only a few chemicals and a source of UV light. The resulting prints have a level of detail that is both striking and beautiful.
Albumen Print 1850
The albumen print was a popular photographic printing process that was developed in the mid-19th century. It was invented by Louis Désiré Blanquart-Evrard in 1850, and it quickly became one of the most widely used photographic printing methods of the time. The process involved coating a piece of paper with a mixture of egg white and salt, which acted as a binder for the light-sensitive silver salts. The paper is then exposed to light through a negative, which produces an image. The paper is then washed in a solution of sodium thiosulfate to fix the image to remove any remaining traces of silver salts. Albumen prints were known for their rich, warm tones and high levels of detail, which made them ideal for portraiture, landscapes, and other types of photography. They were also relatively easy to produce and were less expensive than other photographic printing methods of the time. They were the process that allowed the world to be photographed and provided to well healed tourists.
Ambrotype 1854
he ambrotype is a photographic process that was invented in the mid-19th century. It was a popular alternative to the daguerreotype and was known for its durability and affordability. The ambrotype process involves coating a glass plate with a light-sensitive emulsion and exposing it to light through a camera lens. The plate is then developed using a chemical solution, creating a positive image that is unique and cannot be reproduced. Ambrotypes were often backed with a black surface or painted to create a unique and visually striking image. They were popular with photographers who wanted to create portraits and other types of photographs that could be easily reproduced and sold. The ambrotype remained popular until the late 19th century when it was largely replaced by more modern photographic processes. Today, the ambrotype process is often used by artists and photographers who want to create handmade, one-of-a-kind prints with a vintage aesthetic. The process requires a high level of skill and attention to detail, but the results are often stunning.
Tintype 1856
The tintype, aka ferrotype, is a photographic process that was invented in the mid-19th century. It was a popular alternative to the more expensive and delicate ambrotype and daguerreotype processes. The tintype process involves coating a thin sheet of iron with a light-sensitive emulsion and exposing it to light through a camera lens. The plate is then developed using a chemical solution, creating a positive image that is unique and durable. Tintypes were popular with portrait photographers as they could be easily produced and sold. They were the process that captured images of soldiers during the American Civil War. Today, the tintype process has had a revival among artists and alt photographers who want to create handmade, one-of-a-kind prints with the tintype aesthetic.
Carbon Print 1864
Carbon printing is a photographic printing process that was invented by Alphonse Poitevin in the 1850s. It is a complex process that produces high-quality photographic prints with a rich tones. The carbon process involves creating a carbon tissue by coating a piece of tissue paper with a gelatin solution containing carbon black pigment. A separate piece of sensitized paper is then exposed to light through a negative, creating a developed image on the paper. The carbon tissue is then placed on top of the developed image and exposed to light, causing the carbon black pigment to transfer to the developed image. The process can be repeated multiple times to create a deep, rich tone and a high level of detail. Carbon prints were popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and were used to create photographic reproductions of artwork, as well as other subjects. Today, carbon printing is alive and the results are stunning.
Woodbury type 1866
The Woodburytype is a photomechanical printing process that was invented in the mid-19th century by Walter Bentley Woodbury, a British photographer and inventor. The process was widely used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for producing high-quality, fine art prints and plates for publications. The Woodburytype process involved creating a mold of the original photograph by exposing a sensitized gelatin layer to the photographic negative. The gelatin layer was then exposed to light and treated with chemicals to harden the gelatin and create a relief image in the mold. This mold was then pressed onto a sheet of paper coated with light-sensitive emulsion, creating a high-quality print that was rich in detail and tonality. The Woodburytype process was known for producing prints with exceptional detail and tonality, as well as a distinctive three-dimensional quality. It was particularly popular for producing prints of fine art paintings, as the process could capture the subtle details and textures of the original artwork with remarkable accuracy. Despite its many advantages, the Woodburytype process was superseded by photogravue and the halftone process, which were faster and more efficient.
Platinotype/Palladiotype 1873/1917
The Platinotype was formulated by William Willis in 1873. Costs to become absurd during World War 1. Thus Willis formulated the Palladiotype. They are both variations of the platinum printing process, which uses platinum salts to create high-quality prints with a tonal richness and durability that is unmatched by other photographic processes. The these process involves coating a sheet of paper with a solution containing platinum and/or palladium salts and a reducing agent. The coated paper is then exposed to UV light through a negative or object, creating a high-contrast image that is tonally rich and highly detailed. The resulting print has a warm tone and is known for its durability and archival stability. Both processes were popular among photographers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for their ability to create prints with a wide range of tonal values and a unique aesthetic. Platinum/palladium prints are unparalleled in both their performance and appearance with an unmatched tonal range and longevity. Properly made, these prints have an archival rating of over 1500 years These processes have not been forgotten, many of the most important photographers present them as their finest art prints.
Silver Gelatin 1874
Silver gelatin prints, is a photographic printing process invented in the late 19th century. They quickly became the most widely used photographic process and remained so until the advent of digital photography. The process involves coating a piece of paper with a gelatin emulsion that contains light-sensitive silver halide crystals. The paper is then exposed to light through a negative or object, which causes the silver halide crystals to react and form an invisible latent image. The exposed paper is then developed in a series of chemical baths that turn the latent image into a visible image made of metallic silver. The final print is then fixed in a chemical bath to remove any remaining unexposed silver halide crystals. Silver gelatin prints quickly gained popularity because they could produce a wide range of tones and details with high resolution and clarity. The process also allowed for greater control over the final image through the use of dodging and burning techniques during the exposure and development process. Silver gelatin prints are in revival as many photographers find the endless possibilities of digital to lack authenticity and craft.
Photogravure 1878
Photogravure is a photomechanical printing process that was invented in the 1870s. It involves creating a photographic image on a copper plate that is then etched with acid to create recessed cells that hold ink. The plate is then inked and pressed onto paper, creating a high-quality print with a rich tonal range and fine detail. The process begins with creating a photographic positive on a film or glass plate. This positive is then contact printed onto a sensitized carbon tissue, which is then transferred to a copper plate. The plate is exposed to light, which hardens the carbon tissue in the areas where the image is present. The plate is then washed with warm water, which dissolves the unhardened carbon tissue, leaving the image in relief on the plate. The plate is then etched with acid, which creates recessed cells that hold ink. The plate is inked and wiped, leaving ink only in the recessed cells. The plate is then pressed onto paper, transferring the ink and creating the final print. Photogravure allowea the creation of high-quality prints with a wide tonal range and fine detail. The process was widely used for art reproductions, photobooks, and other printed materials, and it remained popular until the rise of offset printing in the mid-20th century. Today, photogravure remains a niche photographic process.
Photochrome 1880s
The photochrome process, also known as the “Lichtdruck” process, was invented in the late 19th century and became popular in the early 20th century as a means of producing color postcards, prints, and other commercial materials. The process involves creating a color image by printing multiple lithographic plates, each one inked with a different color, over a single image. The process allows for accurate reproduction of subtle hues and details, resulting in a vibrant and realistic image. The photochrome process begins with taking a black and white photograph of the subject. Then, separate lithographic plates are created for each color layer. These plates are then inked with the appropriate color and transferred onto the paper in a precise registration. The result is a multi-colored image that closely resembles the original subject. It was especially popular in Europe, where it was used to produce images of famous landmarks and scenic vistas. The process declined in popularity with the rise of the half tone technology.
Halftone prints 1880s
The half-tone printing process was conceived by William Fox Talbot, it was not until the late 19thC that it was perfected. It revolutionized the way photographs could be reproduced in print. The photograph was converted into a series of dots that vary in size and spacing, which create the illusion of different shades of gray or even color. The process begins with creating a photographic negative of the subject, which is then placed onto a plate coated with a light-sensitive emulsion. The plate is then exposed to light through a screen that contains a pattern of dots, which varies in size and spacing. The emulsion hardens in the areas where the light passes through the screen, creating a series of tiny dots on the plate. The plate is then etched with acid, which removes the unhardened areas of the emulsion, leaving a series of tiny, recessed cells that hold ink. The plate is then inked and pressed onto paper, transferring the ink and creating a print that closely resembles the original photograph. The half-tone process quickly became popular for reproducing photographs in newspapers, magazines, and other printed materials, as it is quick and affordable. The half-tone process is still widely used in print media.
Van Dyke Brown Print 1895
The Vandyke brown process is a 19th-century photographic printing process named after the Dutch painter, Anthony van Dyck. It is a contact printing process that produces brown-toned images using a combination of silver nitrate and iron salts. To create a Vandyke brown print, a piece of paper is first coated with a solution of ferric ammonium citrate and potassium dichromate. Once the paper has dried, it is exposed to ultraviolet light through a negative. The exposed areas of the paper will harden, while the unexposed areas remain soft. The paper is then soaked in a solution of silver nitrate, which reacts with the unexposed areas to produce a brown-toned image. The print is then washed in water to remove any unreacted chemicals. Although the Vandyke brown process was not really a commercial process the gallery is a fan and it has been included in this exhibition as the Vandyke brown process is a simple and elegant printing process that produces beautiful, one-of-a-kind images with a distinctive brown tone. The process offers a high degree of artistic control, as the print can be toned with various chemicals to achieve different color effects.
Bromoil Print 1907
The bromoil process was perfected in the early 20th century, having been developed since the 1850s. The process creates artistic photographic prints with a painterly, impressionistic quality. The bromoil process became popular in the early 20th century and was widely used by fine art photographers looking to create unique, hand-crafted prints. The process requires a high degree of skill and artistic vision, and many photographers developed their own unique techniques and styles. As this process was highly influential in pictorial school, it is important in the history of print making even though it was about single images. To create a bromoil print, a silver gelatin print is first made in the traditional way. The print is then soaked in a bleach solution that removes the image, leaving behind a blank paper with a light-sensitive gelatin layer. The print is then inked using a brush and oil-based ink, with the ink applied in varying degrees of density to create a range of tones and textures. The inked print is then dried and fixed, resulting in a unique, hand-crafted image with a painterly quality. The bromoil process is a popular alternative process among fine art photographers.
Wirephoto 1913
Wirephoto, aka phototelegraphy, was a pioneering technology that revolutionized long-distance communication. It allowed photographs and other visual material to be transmitted over telegraph and telephone lines. The wirephoto process involved taking a print, which was then scanned and converted into a series of electrical impulses. These impulses were transmitted over a wire to a receiving station, where they were converted back into a photographic image and printed onto paper. The first wirephoto transmission took place in 1921, and the technology quickly became popular among newspapers, wire services, and other businesses that needed to transmit visual information quickly over long distances. The wirephoto process was particularly important for reporting breaking news events. Wirephoto technology continued to evolve over the years, with advances in transmission speeds and image quality. However, the rise of digital photography and the internet eventually made wirephoto technology obsolete.
Dye transfer 1928
Dye transfer printing is a photographic printing process that was invented in 1928 and gained widespread popularity in the 1940s and 1950s. It was particularly popular for creating color prints of high-quality, fine-art images for the photographers exploring colour. The dye transfer process involved using separate printing matrices for each of the three primary colors: cyan, magenta, and yellow. Each matrix was coated with a different dye and then pressed together with the paper to create the final image. To create a dye transfer print, a negative was first used to make three separate positives, one for each color. Each positive was then used to create a printing matrix, which was coated with the appropriate dye. The matrices were then aligned and pressed together with the paper to create the final print. Dye transfer printing was known for its high degree of color accuracy, saturation, and longevity. The process was time-consuming and expensive, and it required a high degree of technical skill to execute successfully. It remained popular with galleries for its archival qualities and purity of colour only being replaced by inkjet prints in the 1990s.
Photo Booth 1923
The history of photo booth prints can be traced back to 1889 when the first photo booth was invented by a Russian immigrant, Anatol Josepho. Josepho’s photo booth, called the “Photomaton,” was a large cabinet that contained a camera and a series of mirrors that allowed users to see themselves as they posed for their picture. The photo booth quickly became popular, and by the 1930s, there were photo booths in train stations, department stores, and amusement parks all over the world. The prints produced by these photo booths were typically small, measuring just a few inches in size. The process of creating photo booth prints involved exposing a strip of film with multiple frames to the subject’s image as they posed in front of the camera. The exposed film was then developed, and the individual frames were cut and printed as individual photos. A historic photo booth remains at Flinders Street Station, where one set of our displayed photos were made in the lead up to this exhibition.
Chromogenic Print 1942
Chromogenic prints, aka C-prints, are a type of color photographic print that has been widely used since the 1940s. The invention of the chromogenic print can be traced back to the work of Edwin Land. If the film is colour and is a negative then the print is most likely chromogenic. Chromogenic prints are made using a process that involves exposing photographic paper to colored light and then developing the paper with a series of chemical baths. The process results in a color print that is composed of layers of dye, rather than traditional silver-based emulsions. Chromogenic prints were a significant advancement in color photography, as they allowed for faster and more accurate color reproduction than earlier methods. They quickly became the standard for commercial color printing, and were widely used in advertising, fashion, and fine art photography.
Dye Sublimation 1929
Dye Sublimation printing is a digital printing process that involves the use of heat to transfer dye onto a substrate, such as paper or fabric. The process was first invented in the 1950s, but did not become commercially viable until the 1980s. The dye sublimation process involves printing an image onto a special transfer paper using a dye sublimation printer. The transfer paper is then placed onto the substrate and exposed to heat, causing the dye to sublimate and transfer onto the substrate, creating a vibrant and high-quality image. The process allows for full-color printing with photographic quality and is often used for printing high-quality photos, graphics, and text onto a variety of surfaces, including mugs, t-shirts, and banners. Dye Sublimation printing has become increasingly popular due to its versatility and ability to create high-quality prints that are durable and long-lasting. It is widely used in the production of promotional items, such as mouse pads and keychains, as well as in the production of high-quality photographic prints. The process is also used in the production of printing on demand products, such as personalized phone cases and photo books.
Dye Sublimation 1929
Dye Sublimation printing is a digital printing process that involves the use of heat to transfer dye onto a substrate, such as paper or fabric. The process was first invented in the 1950s, but did not become commercially viable until the 1980s. The dye sublimation process involves printing an image onto a special transfer paper using a dye sublimation printer. The transfer paper is then placed onto the substrate and exposed to heat, causing the dye to sublimate and transfer onto the substrate, creating a vibrant and high-quality image. The process allows for full-color printing with photographic quality and is often used for printing high-quality photos, graphics, and text onto a variety of surfaces, including mugs, t-shirts, and banners. Dye Sublimation printing has become increasingly popular due to its versatility and ability to create high-quality prints that are durable and long-lasting. It is widely used in the production of promotional items, such as mouse pads and keychains, as well as in the production of high-quality photographic prints. The process is also used in the production of printing on demand products, such as personalized phone cases and photo books.
Dye diffusion transfer print 1948
Dye diffusion transfer printing (ddtp), aka instant film, was first invented by Edwin Land in 1947, and commercialized by his company, Polaroid, in 1948. It was a revolutionary development in the world of photography, as it allowed for the immediate creation of a photograph without the need for a darkroom. Mapplethorpe, Warhol, Ansel Adams, Araki used this process through major parts of their practices. The process of ddtp involves a specialized film containing multiple layers of chemicals, including a negative image layer, a positive image layer, and a developer layer. When the film is exposed to light, the negative image layer reacts and forms a positive image. The developer layer is then activated by the pressure and heat of the rollers in a camera, which causes the positive image to be transferred onto a sheet of paper. The result is an instant, one-of-a-kind print that has a unique quality. Polaroid discontinued production of their instant film in 2008. In recent years, companies like Fujifilm and Impossible Project have developed new instant film products.
Dye destruction print 1963
The dye destruction process, also known as Cibachrome, was invented by the Swiss company Ciba-Geigy in the 1960s building on the Utocolor (early 1900s)and Gasparcolor (1930s) processes. This positive-to-positive process produced bright, high contrast, saturated color prints from transparencies. The process involves exposing a photographic paper coated with a light-sensitive emulsion to the image. The paper is then developed in a series of chemical baths that remove the unexposed areas of the emulsion, leaving behind a series of dye-forming layers. The dye layers are then subjected to a re-exposure process that destroys the dyes in proportion to the density of the original negative image. The paper is then washed in a series of baths that remove the undeveloped dye-forming layers, leaving behind a final image that closely resembles the original positive. It was especially popular among fine art photographers like Nan Goldin. The process declined in popularity with the rise of digital printing technologies, and that the chemicals are carcinogenic.
3D Lenticular Print 1970s
The history of 3D lenticular printing dates back to the 1940s when it was first used to create 3D images for postcards and other novelty items. However, the process was not widely used until the 1970s when it became more affordable and practical. The 3D lenticular photo printing process involves printing, using other processes such as Chromogenic and digital, multiple images onto a series of thin plastic lenses, which are then stacked and aligned to create a 3D effect. The lens sheet is composed of many rows of tiny lenses that refract light in different directions. When viewed from different angles, each lens displays a different image, which creates the 3D effect. This process was always a novelty, even hatching disposable cameras in the 1990s from which these prints are from.
Ink Jet Prints 1984
Inkjet printing technology for photographic prints was invented in the 1970s, with the first commercial inkjet printer released by Hewlett-Packard in 1984. The inkjet printing process involves spraying tiny droplets of ink onto a substrate, typically paper, in a precise pattern to create an image. Inkjet printers for photographic prints have evolved significantly over the years, with advancements in ink technology, print resolution, and color accuracy. Today, inkjet printers are capable of producing high-quality prints with a wide range of color and tonal values. The process of creating an inkjet print typically involves first editing the digital image on a computer, then sending the file to the printer. The printer then sprays tiny droplets of ink onto the paper, which are absorbed and held in place by the substrate. Some inkjet printers use multiple ink cartridges to produce a wider range of colors and tonal values, while others use a continuous ink system that feeds ink from external reservoirs. Inkjet prints can be produced on a variety of substrates, including glossy and matte paper, canvas, and even fabric. They are known for their longevity, with many prints able to last for decades without fading or deteriorating.
Chromalin 1980s
The chromalin process is a printing technique used to create color proofs of a design before the final printing is done. It was developed by 3M in the 1980s and became a popular choice for designers, printers, and publishers for creating accurate color proofs. The process involves creating a color separation of the design, which is then used to create four printing plates cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (CMYK) that are used to print the design in full color. The printing plates are then used to print a color proof on a special paper known as a chromalin proof. Chromalin proofs are highly accurate representations of the final printed piece and are used for color matching and quality control. They are used to ensure that the final printed piece is consistent with the designer’s vision and meets the client’s expectations. One of the main benefits of the chromalin process is its accuracy. Chromalin proofs provide a highly accurate representation of the final printed piece, as the printing plates used to create the chromalin proof are the same plates that will be used to print the final piece.
Digital Laser Prints 1992
Digital Laser Printing is a type of digital printing that uses a laser beam to produce high-quality printed output. It was invented by Gary Starkweather at Xerox in 1969, but it wasn’t until the 1980s that laser printers became commercially available. Digital laser printing is a popular printing method due to its high speed and accuracy. The process involves the use of a laser beam to create an electrostatic charge pattern on a photosensitive drum. This pattern is then transferred to paper or another medium using toner, which is a fine powder composed of pigments and plastic particles. The toner is melted onto the paper using heat and pressure, resulting in a permanent image. The popularity of digital laser printing has continued to grow, as advancements in technology have led to improvements in print quality, speed, and cost-effectiveness. Digital laser printing has also played a significant role in the evolution of digital photography, as it is a common method for printing digital photos. This has made it possible for people to produce high-quality photo prints from their digital cameras and smartphones.