Alternative processes compared

34 processes side by side. Sort by any column and open a row for exposure, permanence, equipment, chemicals and sources. Density ranges tell you what negative to make in the Curve Builder.

			Negative density range
Anthotypes	Beginner	Minimal	—	Very low	No
Chemigrams	Beginner	Low	—	—	No
Cliché-verre	Beginner	Low	—	—	No
Cyanotype	Beginner	Low	1.0–1.2	Very low	No
Cyanotype on Fabric	Beginner	Low	—	Very low	No
Cyanotype Toning	Beginner	Low	—	Very low	No
Lumen Prints	Beginner	Low	—	Very low	No
New Cyanotype	Beginner	High	1.8–2.6	Low	No
Photogram	Beginner	Low	—	—	Yes
Pinhole photography and camera obscura	Beginner	Low	—	—	Yes
Salt Printing	Beginner	Moderate	3.0+	—	No
Van Dyke Brown	Beginner	Moderate	—	Low	No
Albumen Printing	Intermediate	Moderate	1.8–2.0+	—	—
Argyrotype	Intermediate	Moderate	about 1.8	Low–moderate	—
Gum Bichromate	Intermediate	High	1.2–1.8 per coat	—	—
Instant Film Lifts and Transfers	Intermediate	Low	—	—	No
Kallitype	Intermediate	Moderate	about 1.8	Low–moderate	—
Liquid emulsion	Intermediate	Moderate	—	—	Yes
Mordançage	Intermediate	High	—	—	Yes
Ambrotype	Advanced	High	—	—	Yes
Bromoil	Advanced	High	—	—	Yes
Carbon Transfer	Advanced	High	about 1.8	Low	No
Chrysotype	Advanced	Moderate	1.6–2.8	—	—
Daguerreotype	Advanced	Extreme	—	—	Yes
Gelatin Dry Plate	Advanced	High	—	—	Yes
Gum over Platinum and Cyanotype	Advanced	High	—	—	No
Lith printing	Advanced	Moderate	—	—	Yes
Oil Printing	Advanced	High	—	—	No
Photogravure (Copper and Photopolymer)	Advanced	High	—	—	No
Platinotype Print-out	Advanced	Moderate	—	High	No
Platinum/Palladium	Advanced	Moderate	1.35–1.50	High	No
Tintype	Advanced	High	—	—	Yes
Wet Plate Collodion	Advanced	High	—	—	Yes
Ziatype	Advanced	High	1.35–1.50	—	Yes

“—” means no source we trust gives a value. Exposure times depend heavily on the light source, paper and negative: always run a test.