posterization: a process in photograph development which converts normal photographs into an image consisting of distinct, but flat, areas of different tones or colors. - Wikipedia
On this page I will demonstrate the method I use to create posterized images using analog methods.
Introduction
Somewhere back in the early- to mid-1970s, I read an article about a way to create posterized images in the darkroom using lithographic film and a pin registration sysem. Being someone who likes process-heavy endeavors, as well as alternative images, I filed the idea away until a few years later when I had my own established darkroom and the time to pursue this challenge. When I did give it a try I had to acquire some materials, modify my equipment, and do quite a bit of expiremantion but I did produce some satisfactory results. Many years went by, as in over 40, and I decided to go through the process again and to document it here.
I have produced final prints from the process in several ways: traditional black and white prints, color prints using both negative a nd positive types, silk screened prints, and cyanotype and Van Dyke prints. I will cover each of those as we look at the possibilities that exist.
What is a Posterization?
As we examine this, we'll look at just black and white images. These images are made up of a continuous range, or gradient, of tones from white to black with an infinite set of gray tones between them. On a scale, it might look like this:
With posterization, we want to break that continuous scale into steps like this:
Once we have these steps, we can reconstruct the image by printing them as discrete and different tones of gray or colors. Here are some sample images:
Click on an image to enlarge it.
Overview of the Process
- Select original negative and place in the enlarger
- make series of 2-1/4" positives on litho film using short to longer exposures
- contact print these positives to yield a set of negatives
- arrange and label the positives and negatives in rows
- move the positives one position to the right
- combine a negative with a positive above it to create a tonal filter
From there, it depends on what the final product will be. These tonal filters can be enlarged for contact printing in the making of silk-screen prints, cyanotypes, etc., or they can be printed successively on photo paper.
Tools and Equipment Modifications
Registration Pins
As we will be working with multiple layers of film, we need some way to keep them aligned with one another and a pin registration method is the easiest way.
Registration pins are available from many art supply stores and come in several styles. They consist of a pad of some sort in plastic or metal with a raised button on one end. When I bought mine, I made sure that they were the same size as the hole punch I would be using. (I actually ended up filing mine down a little get them to fit perfectly.) I use 4 pins for this project.
Hole Punch
You will need a hole puch of some sort that punches two holes at the same time. I recommend finding one that not only makes holes that are the same size as your registration pins but allows you adjust the distance between the holes.
The hole punch I am using is a 4-hole model, a Hunt-Boston 1512. In the photo to the left, you can see the adjustments on the back. For my project, I am working with medium format-size film so I needed the holes to be fairly close together so, with this punch, I adjusted the middle holes to have a center-to-center spacing of 1-3/4" apart.
Ideally you will set the distance and just leave it there. I also found it handy to place a piece of tape on the punch, shown in the photo on the right, that I can use to align the film when I insert it for punching.
Once you have the hole punch adjusted, cut a piece of paper (card stock preferred) to 2-3/8" x 4". Put it in the hole punch, short side first, and align the left edge with the piece of tape. Make sure that the paper hits the inside of the punch evenly, that is, is not crooked. Punch it. Now check to see if the holes are correctly spaced. The hole of the left should be 1/4" from the edge of the paper. Make any adjustments necessary and repunch another piece of paper, repeating this until you get things lined up just right. This piece of paper will become your Master Template.
Making an Easel
Now that we have our Master Template, we will make an easel that we will use for exposing our litho film from our original negative. I am using a piece of black matte board but any flat material should work.
Enlarger Modifications
Since I will be putting layers of film in the enlarger and need these to be in repeatable positions, I had to add registration system here as well. I am using a Beseler 23C enlarger. A different enlarger will have similar requirements. Let's look at what I did to the negative carrier first.
Now we need a way to ensure that the carrier can be removed and reinsterted into the enlarger in the same position every time. To do this, I used a pin method by installing a pin in the carrier and drilling a hole in the enlarger's negative stage.
This takes care of the equipment part of the process. Now we have a registration system set for both making the initial positives and negatives as well as projecting the tonal filters onto larger media, be it film or paper.
On the next page, we will walk through the next part of the process.
Go to Page 2 - Making the Tonal Filters
Go to Page 3 - Other Processes
Go to Gallery Page
Updated March 2023.