The Timeless Allure of Platinum Printing in Photography

Lone Elk, Sioux

In an age when images flash by on glowing screens and inkjet printers can reproduce millions of colors with astonishing speed, there's something profoundly grounding about platinum printing. Also known as platinum/palladium printing, this 19th-century photographic process offers a tactile, luminous, and enduring alternative to modern reproduction methods. Revered for its tonal depth, permanence, and almost painterly quality, platinum printing remains a favorite among fine art photographers who crave a physical connection to their work.

What Is Platinum Printing?

Platinum printing is a monochrome photographic printing process that uses platinum and/or palladium metals rather than silver to form the image. The process results in prints with a distinctive matte surface and a wide tonal range that extends deep into the shadows while preserving delicate highlights. Unlike silver-based prints, which rest on the surface of the paper, platinum images are embedded into the paper fibers, giving them exceptional durability and a unique visual depth.

A hallmark of platinum prints is their permanence. Platinum is a noble metal, highly resistant to oxidation and environmental degradation. As a result, platinum prints can last for centuries without noticeable fading or color shifts—something few modern processes can match.

Printing from a Large Format Film Negative

Traditionally, platinum printing is done by contact printing, meaning the print size is the same as the negative size. This makes large format film negatives—8x10 inches, 11x14 inches, or even larger—ideal for the process.

Creating a platinum print from a large film negative is an exercise in craftsmanship. The photographer must first expose the negative using a large format camera, then process it carefully to achieve the desired density and tonal range. The negative is placed in direct contact with the paper, which has been hand-coated with a light-sensitive solution of platinum or palladium salts. The combination is then exposed to ultraviolet light, usually from a specialized UV lamp or even sunlight.

Because of the physical size of the negatives, large format film photography encourages intentionality. Every frame counts. Each step—from composing the image in the ground glass to preparing the emulsion-coated paper—demands patience and precision.

Making a Digital Negative for Platinum Printing

For those who work digitally, the magic of platinum printing is still accessible through the use of digital negatives. These are transparencies printed from digital files onto clear film using a high-resolution inkjet printer.

Creating an effective digital negative involves a nuanced process of tonal calibration. Because platinum printing doesn’t respond to light in the same way as traditional photo paper, the digital negative must be carefully adjusted to produce a pleasing print. This usually requires building a custom curve in image editing software (like Photoshop) and using specialized RIP (raster image processor) software or printer settings to achieve the right ink densities.

Once printed, the digital negative is treated just like a traditional one: it’s placed in contact with hand-coated paper and exposed under UV light. The result is a platinum print with all the softness, range, and permanence of the historic process—yet sourced from a digital original.

The Best of Both Worlds

Whether you’re a photographer who treasures the craftsmanship of large format film or one who navigates the world with a digital sensor, platinum printing offers a unique opportunity: to slow down, connect more deeply with the image-making process, and create prints that possess not just visual impact but physical substance.

There’s a humility and an elegance to platinum prints. Each one is handcrafted, slightly different from the next, and built to last not just a lifetime but many lifetimes. In a world of instant images and ephemeral media, platinum printing reminds us of photography’s enduring power.

Contemporary Photographers Specializing in Platinum Printing:

Tillman Crane

• Renowned for his large-format platinum prints.

• Subjects include architecture, landscapes, and objects imbued with a quiet, meditative quality.

• Website: tillmancrane.com

Sal Lopes

• Known for emotionally resonant portraits and scenes, often rendered in platinum for their tactile and timeless quality.

• Has created documentary work using the process, such as The Sacrifice of Abraham.

Kenro Izu

• Blends platinum printing with large-format photography (often 14x20 inch negatives).

• Travels extensively, capturing sacred sites in Egypt, India, and Southeast Asia.

• Website: kenroizu.com

Andrea Modica

• Often uses platinum prints for her portrait work, particularly in long-term projects like Treadwell.

• Her work balances formal beauty with emotional depth.

Irving Penn

• While primarily known for fashion and editorial work, Penn’s platinum prints (especially of still lifes, nudes, and indigenous portraits) are among his most revered.

• He made many platinum prints late in his career, elevating them to museum status.

Craig J. Barber

• Uses both platinum and palladium in his contact prints.

• Known for his documentary-style images taken with an 8x10 camera.

Brenton Hamilton

• A master of historic processes, including platinum/palladium.

• His prints often combine antique imagery with poetic abstraction.

• Website: brentonhamilton.com

Historical Figure

Alfred Stieglitz

• A central figure in American photography and early modern art.

• Advocated for platinum printing for its expressive potential and richness of tone, especially in his early works.

1. Platinum & Palladium Printing, Second Edition by Dick Arentz

• Overview: This comprehensive guide delves into the technical aspects of platinum and palladium printing, offering insights into sensitometry, chemistry, and mechanics. It's considered an indispensable resource for photographers and printmakers interested in these processes. (Amazon)

2. Monochrome by Peter Dazeley

• Overview: An exquisite collection of platinum prints by British photographer Peter Dazeley, showcasing the timeless beauty of plants, animals, and flowers. The book delves into the meticulous craftsmanship behind Dazeley's use of the original Platinotype method. (photographymc.com)

3. Platinum and Palladium Photographs: Technical History, Connoisseurship, and Preservation

• Overview: Published by the American Institute for Conservation, this volume provides a thorough appreciation of the technical and aesthetic characteristics of platinum and palladium prints, along with the scientific basis for their preservation. (culturalheritage.org)