I just ran across a method for printing with pt, pd or pt/pd that sounded interesting and simple. I have been looking for a way to proof pt prints without the expense of using the pt/pd solutions, this is important when printing 12x20, so while looking at the alternativephotography site there is an article about satista prints.

The process sounded simple and I had the chemicals, so I gave it a shot....amazing! the prints that came out have a great tonality and the process is so simple it is a wonder nobody has mentioned before. Those of you starting might give it a try, it is simple, far simpler than kallitypes or salt prints and it might represent some savings while you get the hang of it.

Jorge,

Could you please post a link to the article?

Thanks!

Jim

Jorge,

Could you please post a link to the article?

Thanks!

Jim

Here you go bubba, enjoy.....

http://www.alternativephotography.com/process_satista.html

I just made what I think is one hell of a satista print, as soon as it dries I will post it.

A few observations, this process is bleached by rapid fixer, so this tells me is not as stable as a pure pt/pd print. Sandy and I had a discussion about toning Kallitypes with pd and how the pd replaces the silver in the print. It seems we are doing the opposite here, we start with a pd print and we replace the pd with silver.

Here you go bubba, enjoy.....

http://www.alternativephotography.com/process_satista.html

A few observations, this process is bleached by rapid fixer, so this tells me is not as stable as a pure pt/pd print. Sandy and I had a discussion about toning Kallitypes with pd and how the pd replaces the silver in the print. It seems we are doing the opposite here, we start with a pd print and we replace the pd with silver.


There is also an article on Satista at http://www.bostick-sullivan.com/Technical_papers/Satista+/satista.htm. Could be the same one Jorge cites above, I did not check.

I have done a fair amount of experimentation with Satista, with these comments.

1. It is in essence a silver-iron process of the same family as kallitype. The result is not a palladium or platinum print but one that consists primarily of silver metal. For permanence it must be toned. Just look at the basic formula. For an 8X10 print you use 3 drops of either palladium or platinum salt, and 1 ml of a 10% silver nitrate solution.

2. In my own working conditions I concluded that making a traditional kallitype print, and then toning with palladium or platinum, was actually less complicated than making a Satista and then toning it. And the final result is the same. Your own work habits may lead to different conclusions.


Sandy King

Ok, the image is in the experimental gallery....tell me what you think.

There is also an article on Satista at http://www.bostick-sullivan.com/Technical_papers/Satista+/satista.htm. Could be the same one Jorge cites above, I did not check.

I have done a fair amount of experimentation with Satista, with these comments.

1. It is in essence a silver-iron process of the same family as kallitype. The result is not a palladium or platinum print but one that consists primarily of silver metal. For permanence it must be toned. Just look at the basic formula. For an 8X10 print you use 3 drops of either palladium or platinum salt, and 1 ml of a 10% silver nitrate solution.

2. In my own working conditions I concluded that making a traditional kallitype print, and then toning with palladium or platinum, was actually less complicated than making a Satista and then toning it. And the final result is the same. Your own work habits may lead to different conclusions.


Sandy King

The article I read specifies a 4% solution, seemed to work just fine. It is really no surprise as 4% is far more silver ions that are needed to replace the pd ions in the paper.

Is it that orange in real life? It is a nice pcture.

Is it that orange in real life? It is a nice pcture.

Yeah, it is orange in real life. That is how it develops, if you vary the concentration of pd/pd you get different colors. I used 4 of pd and 1 of pt of this one, but you can get subtler tones. I imagine the paper and the sizing it has will also make a difference.