Alternative photography encompasses a range of artisan printing techniques inherited from the 19th century. Unlike digital printing, each print is unique, made by hand on cotton paper or other substrates. This guide presents the most accessible and beautiful processes available today.
What is an alternative photographic process?
"Alternative processes" refers to all photo printing techniques that don't rely on conventional silver salts (like baryta or RC paper printing). Instead, they use iron salts, platinum/palladium salts, pigments, or bichromate-based emulsions. Their common thread: UV light is the revealing agent.
The 9 main alternative processes
1. Cyanotype
Cyanotype is by far the most accessible alternative process. It produces prints in deep Prussian blue on white paper. The chemistry is simple (two iron salts), non-toxic, and development is done in plain running water.
Look: Blue monochrome. High contrast. Graphic aesthetic.
Difficulty: Easy. Perfect for beginners.
2. Gum Bichromate (Gum Print)
Gum bichromate mixes gum arabic, a pigment and potassium bichromate. This process allows polychromatic prints (by layering multiple colors) with a unique painterly texture. The result looks more like a watercolor than a photograph.
Look: Soft colors, painterly texture. Highly customizable.
Difficulty: Intermediate. Multiple passes needed for color work.
3. Bromoil
Bromoil starts with a silver gelatin print that is bleached to remove the silver, then re-inked with oil paint. The result is a print of incomparable tactile richness, close to lithography.
4. Carbon Print
Carbon printing is one of the most permanent processes. It uses pigment mixed with gelatin and bichromate. The result has unparalleled stability and extraordinary shadow depth.
5. Resinotype
The resinotype is a variant of the carbon process using a photopolymer resin. It yields highly detailed prints on varied substrates (paper, wood, fabric).
6. Van Dyke Brown (Aquaprint)
Aquaprint (or Van Dyke) produces elegant warm brown prints. The chemistry, based on iron salts and silver nitrate, is very easy to use. It's the ideal alternative to cyanotype for those who prefer warm tones.
How to choose your first process?
If you're a beginner, start with cyanotype: non-toxic chemistry, water development, spectacular results from the first attempt. If you want color and a more painterly approach, try gum bichromate. For the most permanent and noble prints, aim for platinum/palladium.
