Early Photographic Processes

Printing-Out Paper

from 1890s

©  Reproduced with the acknowledgement to Mark DiVecchio, San Diego, California and his web site

Discovery

Printing-out paper was one of the standard photographic papers in use for many decades from the late 1890s.  The package above has an expiry date of October 15, 1908.

For any photographers interested in using old processes, perhaps to reproduce images from old negatives, Kentmere, in collaboration with the Chicago Albumen Works, have been producing Kentmere Centennial paper since 1995.

This is a gelatine chloride printing-out paper with a very slow emulsion sensitive to only blue and ultra-violet light.   The emulsion is coated onto white double-weight fibre-based paper.

Eastman Ltd introduced their Printing Out Paper named Solio in 1888 and continued to manufacture it until around 1910.  The paper was apparently a very successful product - good news for Eastman who were reported to be going through difficult times in the 1890s.             [CH:WoP]

I know of Solio Papers produced in size 3.5 ins x 3.5 ins, but do not know what other sizes were produced.

Process

This paper was usually used to produce contact prints in daylight.  

1. Expose the paper under the negative to produce a deep purple-red print.

2.  Wash, and the image lightens

3.  Tone.  [This step is optional]

4.  Fix in 15% hypo solution

5.  Wash.

Result

Prints have a high sheen and rich colours.

If the print has not been toned, it will be orange-brown.

If gold toning has been used, it will be reddish-brown to purple-brown.

In Edinburgh 

Eastman Ltd's Solio paper and other Printing Out Papers were discussed and demonstrated at Edinburgh Photographic Society Meetings in the 1890s

Supplies 

Nigel Dear tells me that he can supply Printing-Out Paper, for anybody wishing to use the 'historically accurate medium from the 1890s to the 1920s for making prints from glass negatives'.

He also supplies other materials for early photographic processes.   Here is a link to his web site.

REFERENCES:  CH:WoP = Colin Harding:  The Wizard of Photography web site.