Topic: Adam Savage and Tintype

[Francois]

Here's one for all those mythbusters fans out there
! No longer available

[Indofunk]

Awesome!!

So wait, after the developer creates the negative image, how does the fixer turn it into a positive?

[02Pilot]

That makes wet-plate look very simple. Somehow I suspect there's a bit more to it, at least if you want good results. Cool video.

[SLVR]

are you missing an eyebrow! CLASSIC

[Francois]

Awesome!!

So wait, after the developer creates the negative image, how does the fixer turn it into a positive?

That's because the thintype doesn't work like regular photo paper but instead relies on an optical trick.
On regular photo paper, shadows turn white because the base of the paper is white.
But on tintypes, the base is a very flat non reflective black that is much darker than the silver grains. So when we look at it, it appears as a positive.
Also, the developer used is very different from what we use these days. As he says, it doesn't contain either hydroquinone that would give a contrasty image or metol that would give a soft gradation... That has a big influence on the outcome.

[JoeV]

I've played around with simulating the tintype effect by taking a film negative and placing it against a black background. With the emulsion side up, and under the right lighting conditions, you can see a positive image, though it's faint. I'm wondering if some different kind of film developer would make the silver stand out with more of a white color.  Then spray-paint the reverse side black.

Also, if paper manufacturers would coat their emulsion on a black paper substrate instead of white, perhaps we'd have an alternative form of direct positive paper.

~Joe

[Indofunk]

Awesome!!

So wait, after the developer creates the negative image, how does the fixer turn it into a positive?

That's because the thintype doesn't work like regular photo paper but instead relies on an optical trick.
On regular photo paper, shadows turn white because the base of the paper is white.
But on tintypes, the base is a very flat non reflective black that is much darker than the silver grains. So when we look at it, it appears as a positive.
Also, the developer used is very different from what we use these days. As he says, it doesn't contain either hydroquinone that would give a contrasty image or metol that would give a soft gradation... That has a big influence on the outcome.

Filmwasters: where I learn something new every day!

[Francois]

Also, if paper manufacturers would coat their emulsion on a black paper substrate instead of white, perhaps we'd have an alternative form of direct positive paper.

For that, they would need to produce a specific developer too.
The thing is, all silver isn't the same color. On most B&W films, the silver is just plain black (unless processed in pyro or cathecol). One way to mimic the effect would be to use a toner to turn the silver to another form.
Also, the problem with using film is that the acetate used is quite shiny while the tintype black is perfectly flat.