Photo in Glass

[Modesto]

I've been searching all day...books..sites...everywhere and, I can't seem to locate what I remember reading not so long ago regarding the process of placing photos in glass. Not the photo itself but the image from the photo...chemicals were used...I think it was along the lines of the old process "glass plate negatives" superimposing an image in glass. Can anyone help?

[monster princess]

Harold, I don't have a clue but as usual, it sounds really neat-o so if you find out before someone posts here, please share.

Thanks

Betsy ;)

[Vixon]

hey harold-
I've seen what you're talking about but I've never seen how to do it on beadmaking. In jewelry making there's a thing called photo etching or something like that. Maybe a jeweler used his/her techniques on beads.
Vixon

[Modesto]

I think I remember that the process was used on larger objects like the face of a vase or a jar. I think the negative was used with chemicals...maybe developer like in a darkroom.

[craftylady]

Harold if you find out the way to apply those pics please share.

[Ann*S]

Harold,
I do polaroid transfer and although I do it on watercolor paper , I have heard it can be done on almost anything...I'll check it out but you need a machine that develops the old polaroid film that you rip open. What it involves is taking the piece that you normally throw away and developing it on art paper or something else.
ann

[KFOrr]

My books are packed, so I can't look it up. However, I'm pretty sure this is covered in the book Glass Notes by Henry Halem http://www.glassnotes.com/orderpage.html A beadmaker who has used this process quite a bit is Sherry Maxon Hopper. Hope this helps. --Kristen

[Modesto]

BINGO....You get my personal hero of the day award:clap:

That's exactly where I read it....for some reason...I looked but missed it until your post prompted me to reexamine Henry's book. "How to Print a Photograph Inside a Bottle" Page 95 in "Glass Notes" "A reference for the glass artist" "An illustrated guide for building and maintaining a modern glass studio" 3rd Edition.

I can't reprint the details on how the process works without infringing on the copyright...however, I can tell you the cost of this book is really just peanuts compared to the wealth of information contained within. On top of that...if you knew where Henry hangs out...and you read his posts...I think most would also come to the conclusion that he is very KEWL person and not worthy of losing a single sale.

REALLY thanks again,
Harold



Originally posted by KFOrr
My books are packed, so I can't look it up. However, I'm pretty sure this is covered in the book Glass Notes by Henry Halem http://www.glassnotes.com/orderpage.html A beadmaker who has used this process quite a bit is Sherry Maxon Hopper. Hope this helps. --Kristen

[Plato]

try www.glasscolor.com (Olympic)and check out Gaffer colors.Ruby #080 is photosensitive and I believe,not the only one.
This may not be the method you`re looking for,but it`s still interesting.And,ya...buy a copy of Glass Notes.:cool:

[KFOrr]

Glad I remembered the right book.:) Is this something you are going to try? Hope you will post pictures! --Kristen

[Modesto]

Originally posted by KFOrr
Glad I remembered the right book.:) Is this something you are going to try? Hope you will post pictures! --Kristen

Yes Kristen...I will. Photography is another Art form I've enjoyed for a long time and, I'm elated that there is a process where I can mix both Glass Art and Photography. It might be awhile before I can gather all the necessary ingredients and apply them as directed.

NOTE: I have been known to put more on my plate than I can really handle at one time but, I've also noticed I get more done because of it. :D

Thanks again Kristen:clap:

[jimbly]

I have been investigating enamels and I believe there is an article I have recently found that details a process of getting the enamels to stick to a plastic material that is transformed by light into a not water soluble material. The unexposed part is water slouble, or I have it backwards. Anyway, you can adhear this stuff to your work and dust it with enamel. When you fire the piece, the plastic burs offa nd the enamels fuse to the substrate. I will see if I can find the link or something.

[Jennifer Geldard]

That sounds interesting! I'd love to check out that link if you find it

[jimbly]

http://glass-on-metal.com/pastart/photographic-doran.htm

Here is the process. It sounds rather complex. I think if you use enamels that are compatible with the glass you are using, it should turn out. The heat-up rates sound like they'd be compatible.

good luck.

Jim

[Virginia Slawson]

Harold,

Kristen beat me to it with the recommedation of _Glass Notes_:) -- a great book. Where I first read about this process was in an entry in the_Popular Mechanics - Handyman's Encylopedia_. (© ca. 1950s)

Another way of approaching this that might interest you: Making decals... especially if you're interested in multiples. Henry mentions this in his book also. I believe another source for supplies (decal paper) (besides the ceramic suppliers that Henry refers to )is C.R.Loo. At least they carried it several years ago. Thompson Enamel also comes to mind.

Though for crispness I'd suggest photo-silkscreening (direct emulsion method) of glass tracery pigments, or enamels. It's involved, but worth it for multiples. I've attached a photo of a piece done by this method (a run was commisioned by a conservation/nature oriented shop). The screen was made by exposing the photo emulsion to a Koda-lith positive. The "gotcha" in screening any pigment onto glass is that the screen material has to be such that it will stand up to the abrasive qualities of the pigments. (Of course, this applies to large runs.)

Another really great book is _Painting on Glass_ by Albinus Elskus. It discusses in great detail, the application of glass tracery, stain(silver nitrate)(the yellow to orangey-amber staining of glass), and glass enamels.

Jimbly, that article you pointed us to was really interesting, thanks!

We've got another publication, somewhere here, that addresses this very subject. I will look for it, and post more later.

Hope this helps... I can't wait to see what you come up with!

-- Virginia :cat:

[Virginia Slawson]

The other publication I referred to:

_Alternative Photographic Processes_ , Kent Wade. c. 1978. "How to create photographic images on: Glass, Wood, Metal, Paper, Fabrics, Stone, Plastic, Leather, and much more."

Lot's of good info, bibliography, safety section, sources ... very inspiring.

[Modesto]

Welcome to WC Virginia:clap:

Thank you very much!
I found used copies of both books on Amazon...

Alternative Photographic Processes by Kent Wade - had many affordable used copies available.:cool:

The other...Painting on Glass by Albinus Elskus - only one copy used for $125.00 WOW...not sure I can afford that one.
What was the original price? Maybe you know another place to find one?

Thanks for the image too..."Salt and Halos" was this one of your creations?:clap: Please share more if you have them.

[Virginia Slawson]

Originally posted by Harold
Welcome to WC Virginia:clap:

Thank you very much!
I found used copies of both books on Amazon...

Alternative Photographic Processes by Kent Wade - had many affordable used copies available.:cool:

The other...Painting on Glass by Albinus Elskus - only one copy used for $125.00 WOW...not sure I can afford that one.
What was the original price? Maybe you know another place to find one?

Thanks for the image too..."Salt and Halos" was this one of your creations?:clap: Please share more if you have them.

You're welcome! Thank you for the welcome! (I'll post a little intro soon, promise.) ;)

Great that you found the books on Amazon. Grab that Alternative Processes book - it has a lot of info in it. I'm shocked at the price of Albinus' book! WOW is right. It might be considered the "bible" of contemporary glass painting -- hence the high price tag...! But still, that is high. I'll certainly be on the lookout for a copy for you. (... try Whitehouse-books in Corning...) Hmm, I think we might have paid $30 something for it in the late 70s. It *is* a high quality book with some beautiful full-color photos... but still...

Yes, "Salt and Halos" was an edition of prints on glass that we produced for the ecology shop I referred to (glass tracery pigments that were screened and fired onto "GNA" art glass)(It's difficult to see in the scan but the GNA glass is a transparent/glass that has subtle, "antique" look to it). They provided the photo (of the actual whales of those names) which we turned into a koda-lith (which keeps the graphic integrity, but loses the grey scale... thus resulting in a "graphically clean," "silk-screen friendly" image), and added the "Salt and Halos," etc. copy. The koda-lith (positive) is then used to expose the photo-senstive emulsion on the silkscreen. The resulting screen is then squeegeed with the pigments of choice. In this case we used Reusche's glass tracery pigment (available as "ball-milled" in "squeegee oil"). They are fired, and then wrapped with copper foil w/hangers added.

Phew. Probably more info than you wanted! ;)

[KristiB]

Hi Harold,

I swear I saw that Painting on Glass book at Powell's here in Portland, Oregon. It's a New/Used book store that takes up a whole city block and has several floors. Really cool. Usually they are great for finding used books at a decent price. You can even give them a request and they will look for it.

Never mind as I was writing this I thought I would check on-line. I'ts a first edition and it's $450. And here I thought I was going to be able to help. At least it's good for a laugh! :D


http://www.powells.com

Here's what the web site said......

Condition: Standard

ISBN: 0684164655 Subtitle: (techniques and designs for stained glass /) Publisher: Scribner Subject: Glass painting and staining -- Technique. Subject: Glass painting and staining Edition Description: Bibliography: p. 140. Publication Date: c1980 Illustrations: Yes Pages: vii, 147 p., 4 leaves of
Notes:
new york, charles scribner's sons, 1980
1st edition inscribed
vg/vg
$450, 82500acg

Oh well, I tried....

Kristi

[KFOrr]

The other...Painting on Glass by Albinus Elskus - only one copy used for $125.00 WOW...not sure I can afford that one. Try abebooks.com They show 17 copies, the least expensive is about $85. --Kristen

[Glassy79]

NOTE: I have been known to put more on my plate than I can really handle at one time but, I've also noticed I get more done because of it.

I think I'll go out and get a bigger plate..............................just incase this guy desides to pay me a visit...:o :o :o

[Tink]

Ok Harold. This is EXACTLY the kind of thing that gets me all excited! What a cool concept!

I have some major surgery this Friday, and I'll be away from the torch for 4-6 weeks, but I'm going to mark this thread to see what you come up with.

I'll have to live vicariously through you, for now...

[!ngridh]

OH MY...this really appeals to the artist in me that wants to produce images...I will have to look into it. As far as decals go...I do know Michael Barley does them...he has some work up on ebay now. I really could go for creating images with enamels and applying them...That and faceting...I would like to see what I can do to reproduce some of the effects of Mokume Gane in glass if I had the ability to reveal the layers...
LOL at least I know that I have so many new things to explore. This medium is one that makes me slow down and master skills rather than let my ideas run away with me ...I believe this is good for me. Have I mentioned how much I LOVE GLASS! just in case you all were wondering.

[Ann*S]

Tink,
I hope your surgery goes very well. Please let us know when it's over how you feel.
ann

Ingrid...hi there! Pray tell....what is the ebay ID on that?


thanks... ann

[Modesto]

RE:"Probably more info than you wanted! "

Thanks Virginia...really awesome! That's one thing you'll never have to worry about...giving me too much information.:D

RE:"$450, 82500acg Oh well, I tried.... "

Thank you very much for looking Kristi...Wow...I think I should start taking better care of my glass books...seems like they could become valuable investments.:eek:

RE:"the least expensive is about $85"

Thank you too Kristen. Still a bit beyond my budget...maybe this will have to be put on my Xmas wish list?

RE:"get a bigger plate"

Yes Richard...and maybe you can show me how to make a round marble.:)

RE:"I have some major surgery this Friday"

Oh...I hope all goes well for you...PLEASE keep us informed Tink...I'll be doing what I can for you.:(

RE:"this really appeals to the artist in me"

Yes !ngridh...don't you just love it when that happens...maybe we can support each other on this?:cool:

Now I have to find all the ingredients...this week will be a fun adventure.

Again...Thanks for all the support:clap:

[!ngridh]

painting on glass... i have that book...it covers a lot of areas...and I really love it...but .... I am so into my lampworking that I just don't have time now to go in that direction...the day I quit work and just lampwork...R&D will be part of my regular habits...

[macbeth7]

Thanks for starting this thread, Harold! Lots of great information here! I will hav to file it away for future reference. I too have been interested in photography for a long time...ever since I took a class in middle school.

Virginia, welcome to WC! I love the "Salt and Halos" piece! :clap:

Tink, hope you're doing well...sending good vibes your way!

:cat:
Beth