is it possible to use canvas instead of photo paper...

[jared ellis]

I'm a painter not a photographer however I was curious if there was any way I co uld project an image, similar to an enlarger, on to a canvas treated with some s ort of light sensitive photo chemical and get a photo-like image. I've taken a few classes in photography while I was young and I remember very little. If any one knows of a chemical that I could spread on an assortment of surfaces that'll retain an image that's been projected onto it I'd be very grateful of your advi ce.

[Steve Feldman]

Yup, there are a few that can do just that.

Check out a photo supply store in you area or Freestyle in Hollywood, CA.

Try "Luquidlight". Photos on a rock if you want.

[Chris Partti]

You could also explore some of the "alternative" processes (ie., not traditional silver) such as cyanotype or van dyke brown (probably the two simplist and cheapest), which are very easy to use on cloth. The catch is that you can't enlarge directly onto the material since these processes require contact printing (because the materials are not a sensitive as silver). On the plus side, if you have large negatives, can make them yourself (either on an enlarger or computer), or can find a commercial darkroom that will make them for you, it is very easy to make prints, and you can expose in sunlight, without a darkroom. Even medium format negatives are large enough to start out with if the images are simple. Try doing a web search on "cyanotype" and "van dyke brown" and you are sure to pull up a lot of interesting information.

[Pat Kearns]

Luminos has a b & w product that might interest you. It is Luminos Photo Linen, comes in 8x10, 11x14 & 16x20. It will save you the time of painting the emulsion and waiting for it to dry. A couple of tips on using Luminos Photo Linen. 1. Visually you cannot tell what side is emulsion side up, so you like your finger tips and touch a corner and the emulsion side should stick to you finger. 2. When it hits the chemicals it rolls up like a drinking straw. A Luminos service rep told me that he used the plastic edge clips used on report binders to reduce curling in the chemicals. If you use Luminos Photo Linen your hands will definitely end up in the chemicals. Good luck & happy shooting.

[jared ellis]

Thanks everybody

[welly]

Hi Jared,

I can't say about chemicals, however many artists expand their audiences by reprinting some of their works onto canvas. This gives the prints a museum-like quality and, in many ways, replicates the look of an actual painting. Two main types of canvas exist---cotton and polyester. Each has its pros and cons. Artists should carefully study each type before agreeing to a reproduction of their work

If only I knew a place that would print onto canvas.

[jnantz]

a lot of labs will ink-print onto canvas ...
it is possible to do it with liquid light or a silver emulsion
it is also possible to do it with speedball emulsion as well as cyanotype chemistry ..
and there is no developer to process the canvas with, just water.