Solarization is an artistic effect in photography. A film or photographic paper is briefly exposed to light
during chemical development, reversing the brighter tones of the image and creating a white rim around previously dark
areas.
Back in the 1950s, I worked with solarization in my darkroom. Here is an example and a
step-by-step description of how I did it.
- A photo was taken of a ceramic vase with roses against a black background, illuminated from the side. The camera
used was a Rolleiflex (a twin lens reflex).
- A blow-up was made from the 6 x 6 cm negative, but the development process was interrupted and
the photographic paper was briefly exposed to light, then the development was continued.
- The finished print was placed face-to-face on a sheet of hard (i.e. high contrast) photographic paper with a
pane on top of it, exposed to light and normally processed. See left image.
- This new finished print was again contact-copied. See right image.
Images copyright 1956 - 2024 by G.W.Schnell. All rights reserved.