What is dye transfer printing

Each negative matrix is transferred separately. The matrix is placed with its emulsion against the gelatin surface of the receiving paper. The three matrices, in register, produce a full color image.

Ultimately, all three matrices must align in perfect registration for a successful positive image to be made. Kodak ceased production of dye transfer products in , as digital imaging technologies overtook their capacity for color control and manipulation. Westover Plantation dye transfer print; s by F. Robinson, Dye-transfer printing shared many characteristics with lithography, in which an etched metal or stone surface was used to print a dye image or text onto paper.

For motion picture use, separate color records had to be imparted onto a blank 1,foot strip of gelatin-coated 35mm film. Cyan, yellow, and magenta dyes were added one at a time by pressing a dyed matrix, or relief film, into contact with the blank for a short time.

Exact registration of the dye imprints was crucial. This "unsharp" contrast mask in placed in contact with the orginal transparency when the separation negatives are exposed. The unsharpness of these masks creates an "edge" effect—creating more contrast where light and dark tones meet, thus making the image look sharper.

This is where the "unsharp mask" filter in Photoshop gets its name. One of the secrets in dye printing concerns the gamma contrast of the separation negatives. More contrast equals more color saturation. And to preserve the overall tonal contrast, make the contrast masks stronger when you do this.

So everything interacts. Since the highlights in the original transparency are a neutral white, they all look about the same. Except—the lowest mask exposed with the blue filter shows a little bit of detail in the bright blue wall in the middle! What does this do?

That B highlight mask goes on top of the blue separation negative when the yellow printer is exposed, therefore removing a little density from the yellow in that area, making it a more brilliant blue!

After the contrast masks, highlight masks, and separation negatives are made, you're ready to expose the matrix film—what I call the "printing plates". For my prints, I used matrix film sized anywhere from 11x14 to 20x Looking below, I kept the matrices on the far left below the same size as the 4x5 original. Three sheets of matrix film with the three different separation negatives are carefully exposed, processed, and dried.

The matrix or "mat" exposed with the R separation is placed in the cyan dye, the G in the magenta, and the B in yellow dye.

If you rolled each out on a separate piece of receiving paper, you'd get the middle row below. Normally, you would sequentially transfer them onto one sheet of paper, effectively reassembling the image, as you see on the far right. And remember, each sheet of film has to be very carefully exposed, developed, and dried. Extensive tests are required to determine the correct exposure and development for each of the colored filters, for each of the films used. Whew, again! OK—now let's actually make a print!

Below are all the masks and separations I created for the sixth time I printed this particular transparency. When you keep learning new techniques, you have to keep reprinting your images! Dye transfer — a nearly forgotten process experiences a comeback Kodak basically ceased production of the materials used in the dye transfer process from one day to the next in , as it had gradually lost traction with the advent of digital image processing in the early s.

Combining an analog printing process with digital image processing Mr. Color management is essential The digital data is processed using two EIZO ColorEdge CG monitors, where it is optimized adhering to a very strict color management system. Craftsmanship for small series runs Matrix films that have been specially manufactured for Dye Transfer Atelier — Bettina Haneke are used with the laser imaging unit to produce the three printing matrixes, which are used for printing later on.

Worldwide demand for it from artists, galleries, and museums Dye transfer prints are not mass-produced objects that can be reproduced endlessly. Bettina and Egbert Haneke. The Americas. Bosnia and Herzegovina. Czech Republic. United Kingdom. Burkina Faso. Cote d'Ivoire. Hong Kong. Saudi Arabia. United Arab Emirates. New Zealand. If you reside in a country not listed on this page, then please send your e-mail inquiries Recycling Information: 1 To join our newsletter mailing, please us with the subject "subscribe".

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