"Faking" the tintype look?

[athanasius80]

A friend of mine wants me to shoot his portrait as a Christmas present for his wife. He is involved in single-speed bicycling and has a formidable vintage clothing collection as well. He told me wanted an 8x10 portrait with his bike and looking "like a tintype" in his own words.

I am thinking I could use my 8x10 (uncoated lens of course) with homemade dry plates, contact print on FB paper, and sepia tone. Option B would be to use my 4x5 box camera with either type 55 or APHS film, enlarge to 8x10 and follow as above.

Any ideas?
Thanks!

[Greg Lockrey]

Remember to make the "Tintype" image backwards.

[Toyon]

You might try Fotospeed's "Antique Dye Toner". This gives a yellowy tone that looks like a cross between albumen and tintype coloration. You control the intensity through the length of washing. I think you'll get better control than through ordinary sepia. The other suggestion is using a Thiurea sepia toner, such as Fotospeed's odorless sepia. They include a "part C" that varies the tone and intensity of the effect.

[Greg Lockrey]

Here is a link to some supplies to make modern day tintypes. http://www.rockaloid.com/products.html#tintype

[Ken Lee]

One artifact of those images is shallow depth of field. Another is a rather unique tonality

This image, even though it's brown, looks modern.

[Andy Eads]

You may want to shoot through a strong blue filter to simulate the spectral sensitivity of the early emulsions. I find that makes a huge difference in appearance. Any blue filter from the color separation sets would do.

[Ken Lee]

I know your question was directed towards darkroom methods, but in this case, a little Photoshop goes a long way.

[Bruce Schultz]

Ditto what Dakotah said. There's enough fakers out there. A yellowed picture from film or digital is just that and nothing more.

Check out my new website www.tintypesforever.com to get an idea of what real wet-plate photography looks like, then go to my contacts/link page and see what other wet platers are doing.

[Stan. L-B]

Point well made Bruce. Great offer - if only.......