Albumen Printing

Materials

Prepare the Solutions

1. Silver nitrate solution: Dissolve 12 gm silver nitrate in 50 ml distilled water. Separately dissolve 6 gm citric acid in 50 ml distilled water. When both are fully dissolved, combine and store in a brown glass bottle.

2. Salt solution: Dissolve 10 gm salt in 100 ml distilled water.

Making the Albumen Coating

1. Break three eggs and carefully separate the whites into a clean container — avoid any yolk contamination. You should have about 80 ml of egg white.

2. Beat gently to break up the whites. Do not overbeat — you will end up with a meringue.

3. Pour in 20 ml of the salt solution and stir until thoroughly mixed. Allow to stand until all air bubbles have dispersed.

4. Strain through a fine-mesh jelly bag into a jug to remove any stringy bits or shell fragments. Allow to drain fully — this may take several minutes.

5. The mixture can be stored in the fridge for several months once salted. Do not use immediately after making — let it stand in a cool, dry place.

Coating the Paper

Once coated and dried, allow the paper to stand for 3–4 days in a cool dry place for the albumen to harden fully before sensitising.

Sensitising the Coating

1. Brush the silver nitrate solution onto the albumen-coated surface. Use the rod technique for an even coat: lay the rod at the base of the paper, run a bead of solution against it, then draw it smoothly up the sheet.

2. Use the least amount of solution necessary — avoid any surplus liquid pooling on the surface. Brush along and across to ensure an even coating.

3. Dry the paper. The sensitised surface will have a slight gloss — this tells you which side is coated.

4. Once sensitised, keep the paper away from daylight or strong UV light. It can be stored in thick black plastic bags.

Exposing the Paper

1. Place the sensitised paper with a negative either in a UV box or in a clip-frame for daylight exposure, sensitised side facing the negative.

2. Exposure time: approximately 6 minutes in bright sun; longer if overcast. Adjust by experience. The print will appear very dark when correctly exposed — it lightens in the wash.

3. A split-back contact printing frame is very useful for checking exposure without allowing the negative and paper to slip out of register. One can be made from a clip-frame by cutting the backing board and hinging it with gaffer tape or fabric.

After Exposure

1. Wash in running water for 4–5 minutes to remove unreacted silver nitrate. The print will lighten considerably.

2. Fix in sodium thiosulfate (‘hypo’) solution for 4–5 minutes. The print will darken slightly and shift from orange-brown to a rich coffee-brown. Do not use modern rapid fixers — they are far too aggressive and will dissolve the image.

3. Wash again in running water for 4–5 minutes to remove all fixer. Dry flat.

Notes & Cautions