Platinum/Palladium and the Digital Negative
Three-Day Intensive
Instructor: Kerik Kouklis w/ daughter Sarah Kouklis
June 19 – 21, 2016
(Includes General Registration to Photostock 2016)
Kerik Kouklis is not only one of the finest platinum printers out there, he is an excellent and giving instructor that has taught many of those working today. This includes his very talented daughter, Sarah with whom he will be teaching this workshop. Sarah has really been coming into her own with the process and will be assisting. This is your chance to learn from a true master printer and his protege in a fantastic and intimate environment.
From beginner to those with previous experience in platinum printing or other alternative processes, this class has something for everyone. Even if you already have experience with platinum printing, this workshop is a fantastic way to refine your existing printing skills while increasing your knowledge of digital negative creation, an essential step in modern print making. You will learn how to make digital negatives using the Quad Tone RIP (QTR) program and then learn the basic techniques of platinum/palladium printing.
During this workshop, each student will have plenty of one-on-one instruction that will be geared toward each individual’s current capability. The objective is to get people hands-on experience printing which is the best way to learn. Standing around watching an instructor and others print will only get you so far and we want everyone printing on their own as soon as possible.
The first day of the workshop will start off with learning the platinum/palladium process. Kerik and Sarah will prepare digital negatives from your files before the workshop so we can start printing right away. The second day will be dedicated to learning the craft of making digital negatives using QTR. You will learn how to calibrate the system for your Epson printer (QTR only supports Epson printers). We will use a straightforward approach that is streamlined thanks to a Photoshop script written by photographer David Eisenlord. The script eliminates much of the tedious math and measurements required to create the Photoshop curves utilized in the process. You will receive a copy of the script for your own use. The third day of the workshop we will get back to making prints from your new digital negatives. There will be a variety of papers to experiment with as you delve deeper into this beautiful process.
Some of the topics to be covered in this intensive workshop will include:
- Making Digital Negatives with QTR
- Hand-coating techniques
- Characteristics of different papers
- Contrast control techniques
- Materials suppliers
- Print and negative retouching
- Options for UV light sources