cross-posted from: https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/post/30006359
I’ve been looking into anthotypes recently and thought they were pretty interesting.
Then I started to wonder if it was possible to make an anthotype that could display multiple colors (like a colored photograph).
I came across this post and thought it was like the reverse of a regular anthotype.
Which made me wonder if you could use the same process to create a colored picture?
I was thinking if you took plants that produce pigments across the color spectrum and mixed them together it could make the coating black.
Then when the light hits the paper it removes the pigments from the other colors on the spectrum only leaving the color that was hit in that space eventually creating a colored picture.
I haven’t had the chance to try this yet and I am not really knowledgeable about photography, but would this work?
Hmmm interesting idea!
I think your biggest limitations are going to be contrast and exposure bleed. First of all, typically mixing dyes of different colors (especially plant pigments which are not likely to be super dense), you get brown rather than black. For contrast, I think you’d be limited again by the lack of color density in your pigments, but as long as you’re OK with pastel colors, that could work.
For exposure, at least based on the Wikipedia page you linked, you’re talking one layer taking a 2h exposure. Trying to do say three layers would then take six hours, so whatever you’re using as a mask has to be super absorbent or reflective to UV (think very thick black paper or tinfoil). Anything else, and your underlying layers are going to bleach somewhat.
Thx for the feedback. If I was to try this what do you think I could do get black rather than brown dye? Would I have to use flowers that are closer to cyan, magenta, and yellow so it is closer to the cmyk color model or does that not help?
Also yeah idk if the contrast problem could be solved.
Trying to do say three layers would then take six hours, so whatever you’re using as a mask has to be super absorbent or reflective to UV (think very thick black paper or tinfoil). Anything else, and your underlying layers are going to bleach somewhat.
Do I need to do it in multiple layers? Also I was planning on trying to use the paper as a replacement for photo paper in pinhole photography with it instead of a mask.