Frequently Asked Questions:
What is a siderotype?
A photographic method of printing images or text utilising light sensitive iron salts in combination with salts of gold, platinum, palladium, silver, or a number of other elements.
What type of prints do Siderotype.com produce?
We specialise in gold printing, utilising Dr. Mike Ware's new chrysotype process. New chrysotype printing is archival and prints can be produced as individual objects, parts of collections, or as bespoke books or albums. We also print platinum and palladium.
What colour is a chrysotype?
A new chrysotype image, while consisting solely of gold, can be produced in muted shades of black, blue, violet, red or pink, to your specifications.
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Iris, new chrysotype print.
Why is new chrysotype different from the other siderotype processes?
The primary strength of the new chrysotype process is its absolute permanence. Because the technology is based on gold, it is not subject to the decomposition, fading and deterioration which plague the silver photographic processes and ink-jet products commonly in use. Additionally, new chrysotype does not suffer from the catalytic activity of the otherwise very stable platinotype process, while offering excellent image quality and a colour spectrum which is both subtle and entirely unique to the process.
How is a new chrysotype made?
A new chrysotype print can be made from an existing printed photo, camera negative, or digital file. A digital negative is created, a piece of hand-made pure cellulose paper is coated with gold sensitiser, the negative is contact printed using UV light onto the paper, and the paper is chemically processed and washed to remove everything but the gold constituting the image.
Is it expensive?
A new chrysotype print up to the size of A4 is priced at £250 and will not fade or change for hundreds of years. It is the best way to preserve a valued image or document. Contact us for quotes on multiple orders of the same image, groups of prints, or larger sizes.
Can any photo or document be made into a new chrysotype print?
Any image, document, transparency, negative or print which can be scanned or re-photographed can be made into a new chrysotype print, as long as you own the copyright of the original. For example, the copyright of an image you have taken of yourself with your camera belongs to you and this image can be printed as a new chrysotype. An image taken by a professional photographer is owned by that photographer, and permission to reproduce the image as a new chrysotype will be required from that photographer. Please contact us with any queries regarding copyright – we are happy to advise or assist you in obtaining copyright for any image you would like produced. A full definition of copyright can be seen at the UK Patent Office website – http://www.patent.gov.uk/copy/definition.htm
Can you prove that a new chrysotype is composed solely of Gold?
Yes – energy dispersive X-ray spectrum analysis, scanning electron micrographs, and X-ray fluorescence spectrum analysis prove that new chrysotype prints are composed solely of gold.
New chrysotype 'colour palate', courtesy of Mike Ware.
Scanning electron micrograph (100,000 x magnification) showing nanoparticle gold bonded to fibrils of cellulose paper. Courtesy of Dr. S. Malik, Institut für Nanotechnologie, Karlsruhe, Germany.
Energy dispersive X-ray spectrum of a new chrysotype print from a scanning electron microscope (SEM/EDX). Note the three strong peaks due to gold (Au). Other significant elements are constituents of the paper. Courtesy of the Science Department, The National Gallery, London.
