Historical Context
Albumen printing dominated photography from the 1850s through the 1890s, becoming the first mass-production photographic printing process. Introduced by Louis Désiré Blanquart-Evrard in 1850, the process uses egg white as a binder to hold silver salts on paper. At its peak in the 1870s, a single Dresden factory used 60,000 eggs daily for albumen paper production.
Most 19th-century photographs you encounter in museums and archives are albumen prints, identifiable by their characteristic glossy surface and tendency to yellow in highlights.
Chemistry
Salting Solution
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Egg white (albumen) | From 6 eggs |
| Ammonium chloride | 9 g |
| Distilled water | 100 ml |
Preparation
- Separate egg whites from yolks
- Whisk vigorously until stiff peaks form
- Allow foam to settle overnight (covered, in refrigerator)
- Carefully pour off the clear liquid from beneath the foam
- Dissolve ammonium chloride in distilled water, add to albumen
- Filter through muslin or coffee filter
- Age for 2-3 days before use (improves coating properties)
Silver Bath
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Silver nitrate | 12 g |
| Distilled water | 100 ml |
Add a few drops of nitric acid to prevent fogging.
Procedure
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Paper coating: Float smooth watercolour paper (Arches Platine works well) albumen-side down on the salted albumen solution for 2-3 minutes. Hang to dry.
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Sizing option: The dried albumen paper can be coated a second time for extra gloss and Dmax.
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Sensitising: Under subdued light, float the dried albumen paper on the silver bath for 3-4 minutes. The silver combines with the chloride to form light-sensitive silver chloride.
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Drying: Dry in complete darkness. Use immediately or within a few hours.
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Exposure: Contact print under UV light or sunlight. This is a printing-out process—watch the image appear. Expose until shadows are distinctly darker than the final target (they lighten in processing).
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Washing: Rinse in several changes of water.
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Toning (optional but recommended): Gold toning improves permanence and shifts tone from red-brown toward purple-brown.
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Fixing: Fix in sodium thiosulfate (5%) for 5 minutes.
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Final wash: Wash thoroughly for 30-60 minutes.
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Drying: Air dry face-up on clean surface.
Gold Toning
Gold toning before fixing dramatically improves archival permanence:
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Distilled water | 1 litre |
| Gold chloride (1% solution) | 10 ml |
| Sodium bicarbonate | 2 g |
Immerse print until colour shifts from red-brown to purple-brown (5-10 minutes). Rinse and fix immediately.
Comparison with Salt Prints
| Aspect | Albumen Print | Salt Print |
|---|---|---|
| Surface | Glossy, smooth | Matte, textured |
| Image location | On top of paper | Within paper fibres |
| Detail | Finer detail possible | Softer appearance |
| Colour | Purple-brown | Warm red-brown |
| Preparation | More complex | Simpler |
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Likely Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Uneven coating | Poor paper floating technique | Float evenly, avoid bubbles |
| Low Dmax | Insufficient sensitising time | Extend silver bath time |
| Yellow staining | Insufficient fixing/washing | Extend processing times |
| Bronzing in shadows | Over-exposure | Reduce exposure time |
| Blistering | Trapped air, contamination | Clean technique, fresh chemicals |
Safety
| Chemical | Hazard | Precautions |
|---|---|---|
| Silver nitrate | Corrosive; permanently stains skin black | Gloves essential |
| Ammonium chloride | Mild irritant | Standard precautions |
| Raw eggs | Salmonella risk | Fresh eggs; wash hands |
| Gold chloride | Toxic if ingested | Gloves; careful handling |
Further Reading
James Reilly, The Albumen & Salted Paper Book (Light Impressions, 1980) The definitive historical and technical reference for albumen printing. Covers paper selection, albumen preparation, and 19th-century production methods.
Liam Lawless, Egg Albumen Prints (Foto-Imaging.com) Practical modern guide with detailed step-by-step instructions and troubleshooting.
Christopher James, The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes, 3rd Edition Comprehensive chapter on albumen printing with contemporary techniques.