FUK:GLAM

thread burns, wet willies, perforated fingernails and linty lungs… the risks of being a crafty bitch

Make your own Photo Emulsion

I found this great tutorial on Instructables for “true DIY guide to screen printing” and it included instructions on making photo emulsion using a chemical called Potassium Dichromate (which I found at Kama Pigment in Montreal). It’s highly toxic but if done carefully won’t kill you.

Some might ask “why not just buy Diazo photo emulsion for $20?”… well because once you mix the kit you have to use it all within a couple days and then it’s garbage. for $20 and making it yourself you have 5 times as much, which you only have to mix as much as you will use in a couple days and save the rest for later.

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Posted in Screen Printing and Tutorials and Tips 1 year, 2 months ago at 3:09 pm.

3 Replies

  1. This stuff is commonly used for Gum Bichromate printing, a photographic process passed down by the ancients. It’s known to be pretty fussy, but the effect is just gorgeous. Take a look for yourself.
    http://www.alternativephotography.com/gall_gumbichromates.html

  2. Niecey Jun 10th 2010

    How do you get to the actual tutorial…..?

  3. Hi… the link to the Instructable is in my post there… but this is it http://www.instructables.com/id/STFL74AFL2BQOP6/

    fyi the recipe I’ve come to use is:

    1 & 1/2 tsp Potassium Dichromate
    1/4 c water

    mix together till crystals dissolve in water (do this in a very dim lit room)

    and add 1 & 1/4 cups of glue and mix well

    exposure time with 150 watt bulb 20″ above is about 30 min for 14″x17″ screen

    good luck and let me know how it goes! :)


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