Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Tintype from Rockland Colloid with AG-plus

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1
    Goldman
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    30

    Tintype from Rockland Colloid with AG-plus

    Is anybody uses Rockland Colloid (Ag-plus) emulsion to create a tintype? How good are the images comparing to the wet plate process? I am quite familiar with the wet plate Collodion but I need to find a replacement until I upgrade my studio. My question is more about a quality of the final image and the archival longevity.
    Thanks
    Bill

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Jan 1999
    Location
    Louisiana
    Posts
    287

    Re: Tintype from Rockland Colloid with AG-plus

    I've only seen one person obtain good results. I tried it and it was a total waste of time and money. You're better off going for the real thing, as I did along with hundreds of others when the fad started up about 10 years ago.

  3. #3
    Tin Can's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    22,387

    Re: Tintype from Rockland Colloid with AG-plus

    I bought AG+ last week. I will be testing in a while on glass. I'm letting it age for a bit. Other events are interfering with my real life.

    I doubt it will replace wet plate or everybody would be doing it.

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Aug 2000
    Location
    California
    Posts
    3,908

    Re: Tintype from Rockland Colloid with AG-plus

    If you want a tintype, do it correctly, not with the Rockland substitute

  5. #5
    multiplex
    Join Date
    Feb 2001
    Location
    local
    Posts
    5,358

    Re: Tintype from Rockland Colloid with AG-plus

    goldman
    i have done rockland tintypes for years and get good results
    i do them on both metal and glass ( reversed dry plate )
    if you "google" .. "silver gelatin tintype" you might find results
    that people have posted on the internet. regarding longevity
    if you wash and process them properly you might not have issues.
    i can't speak for anyone buy myself but i've been coating emulsion on glass
    since around 1986 and they look like they were just made.
    the developer is finicky that is the only down-side to it. mix it as instructed
    by rockland, with distilled water and you will be OK.
    the materials aren't explosive or toxic, like wet plate, that is why i do it.
    plus i don't have to process my exposures immediately.
    good luck!
    john

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Noel View Post
    If you want a tintype, do it correctly, not with the Rockland substitute
    hi jim
    the rockland process was what people were doing into the 1900s. it isn't a process they invented and are suggesting
    to people it is authentic when it isn't.

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    West Coast
    Posts
    2,132

    Re: Tintype from Rockland Colloid with AG-plus

    Quote Originally Posted by jnanian View Post
    goldman
    i have done rockland tintypes for years and get good results
    i do them on both metal and glass
    John,
    I would very much like to see some samples of your work with this material! I almost tried the stuff myself a year ago and because I found many complaints about how difficult the material was, I skipped it and went straight to collodion work. But if you are getting good results, then please, show us some!

    Paul

  7. #7
    multiplex
    Join Date
    Feb 2001
    Location
    local
    Posts
    5,358

    Re: Tintype from Rockland Colloid with AG-plus

    hi paul

    the developer is finicky & the biggest problem. sometimes people don't mix it with distilled water
    ( can cause problems ) sometimes they buy a kit that has been in storage for a year and the developer got dark
    ( can cause problems ). the developer is proprietary so if you like the proces there are a handful of varients ..
    i think a couple in the darkroom cookbook, one in jill enfields alternative process book, one on apug and if you
    do a deep search on the web you might be able to find others.

    in the 1900s this same process was used using paper as a substrate... i don't have a lot of $ these days
    so if i can cut a corner, i will i buy glass from time to time and its like $30-50 a wack. paper is pretty cheap.
    and like the metal plates, i can stick in my pentax k1000 ( oops wrong forum ! ) and do a test or just use small bits instead of a big 4x5 plate.

    i have a few things up here:

    http://www.nanianphoto.com/blog/tag/dry-plate-tintypes/
    http://www.nanianphoto.com/blog/tag/ambrotype/

    you'll have to wade and wander.

    none of the images i have made have been with ag+ .. the emulsion
    they recommend and sell the process with, they have all been done
    with either expired 10-15 year old vc or home made emulsion ..

    john

  8. #8
    multiplex
    Join Date
    Feb 2001
    Location
    local
    Posts
    5,358

    Re: Tintype from Rockland Colloid with AG-plus

    tonality
    one thing to note is that the images on glass tend to have a weird greenish hue to them, like AZO and dektol
    images on metal have the tonality of regular "normal" photographs ( sort of but still a little different )
    i've never toned photographs in selenium or thio or sulfite &c toner but i am guessing if you can do that with
    with regular photo emulsion, you might be able to do it with these but to be honest im not sure since you use hardened fixer ( YMMV ).

    photographs on my website might not be a very good barometer for this process ... i sometimes hand color, or use PS to add tint and its not "straight"
    i get kind of bored with straight photography so i mess around a little bit ...
    for stuff that is a bit more "not messed with"
    you might poke around and look at the work of sean mccormick, he does really beautiful silver gelatin tintypes and its pretty straight forward
    http://sean-mccormick.com
    https://www.facebook.com/tinmanportraits
    sean also uses this process for fashion+commerical shoots and other interesting projects.

    double vs thin coating the plates
    when i spoke with bob cone, the guy that started rockland colloid, he suggested that i could double coat
    the emulsion on the plates since i wasn't using AG+( and all my emulsion was "aged" )
    ... sean i believe uses a thin coat rather than a thicker coat and does everything by the instructions given by RC.
    after a while i get antsy, i start to split develop my plates between a hard developer like dektol, and the reversal developer rockland colloid gives ..

    so between coating my plates differently, doing darkroom work with them, and screwing around with the developer
    i have kind of wandered off the path .. its fun though

    john
    Last edited by jnantz; 21-Jan-2018 at 17:11.

Similar Threads

  1. Help! with Rockland tintype kit
    By Tmann in forum Style & Technique
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 7-Feb-2021, 12:39
  2. Rockland Tintype Kit
    By Racer X 69 in forum Darkroom: Film, Processing & Printing
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 30-Dec-2013, 18:24
  3. Rockland ME April 10
    By jp in forum Groups & Meetings
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 10-Apr-2011, 06:59
  4. Hello from Rockland Maine
    By jp in forum Introductions
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 8-Jul-2009, 11:56
  5. rockland colloid tin types
    By Durdee Martines in forum Style & Technique
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 27-Jan-2007, 09:57

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •