How to Transfer Images to Stone or Metal Using Liquid Light

How to Transfer Images to Stone or Metal Using Liquid Light

Introduction

Instructions

Prepare the Surface

Steps

1

Step One

Choose your stone or piece of metal. Keep in mind that an image will show up better on a light surface - and that, for this technique, you'll need a relatively flat surface.

2

Step Two

Prepare the surface: Wash or wipe it down; scrub it if necessary to remove loose particles. Degrease it with rubbing alcohol if necessary.

3

Step Three

Coat a metal surface with two coats of spray polyurethane - front and back - and allow it to dry fully to seal the surface and prevent it from rusting.

4

Step Four

Coat a stone surface or sealed metal surface with two coats of acrylic matte medium - front and back - and allow it to dry fully.

Tips & Warnings

• Because you're going to be immersing your surface in water and photochemistry, it's important that it be well-sealed.
• Coat the image area of the surface with gesso for optimum contrast. If you're using a light-colored piece of metal or stone, you may not need to do this.

Transfer the Image

Steps

1

Step One

Heat the Liquid Light by placing the sealed bottle in a tub, bucket or pan of hot water. (It will begin to re-congeal if the temperature falls below 80 degrees F.)

2

Step Two

Pour some Liquid Light onto your target surface area under safelight conditions in the darkroom, and spread it around using a brush.

3

Step Three

Make several test strips at the same time by pouring Liquid Light onto watercolor paper.

4

Step Four

Allow to dry in complete darkness for several hours. (The surface will be "good" for at least a week - check the bottle to be sure.)

5

Step Five

Expose the image as you would a normal photograph - that is, test until you get optimum exposure time for your image.

6

Step Six

Develop, fix and wash as usual - but you may need to modify your developing and fixing trays depending upon the shape of the object you're printing on.

7

Step Seven

Allow to dry fully. A piece of metal will probably dry in an hour or two; a porous rock may need to dry overnight.

8

Step Eight

Seal with clear polyurethane or acrylic matte medium.

Tips & Warnings

• Once Liquid Light dries, it can be handled like any commercial photo-sensitive paper - i.e., exposed, developed, fixed and washed. The main difference is that the emulsion is 10 to 20 times slower. For example, if you have an image that is normally a 15-second exposure, with Liquid Light you're looking at a 150- to 300-second exposure.

Overall Things You'll Need

• Photo Negatives
• tub, bucket or pan
• Watercolor Paper
• Spray Polyurethane Finish
• Brushes
• Acrylic Matte Medium
• Stones Or Piece Of Metal
• Rubbing Alcohol (if Needed)
• Gesso (if Desired)
• Liquid Light
• Safelights
• Darkroom Equipment