Materials

Materials for making the photosensitive sheets

Through extensive testing we have found so far only two inkjet photo printing papers that are suitable for this process., We think it is essential to start with one of these two brands. The problem with many inkjet photopaper brands tested, both full-gloss and matt, or indeed any ordinary printing paper, seems to be that the dye penetrates too deeply into the fibres and backing and this inhibits the dye’s vital photobleaching reaction. The backside of both these products are waterproof, and essentially the dye will not penetrate into them.

Check list of required items:

Epson PREMIUM SEMIGLOSS photo paper [251 gsm] A4. Epson also offer a size 14% larger than A3. Alternatively, Jessops A4“SATIN” photo paper [240gsm]. A3 size is also available.
One weighing machine capable of weighing to 0.10g
A good quality soft squeegee. e.g. GB Pro 14”. (This will work also on A3 size.)
A calibrated beaker, or jug, that will hold more than a litre.
Two small soft sponges of different colours.
Surgical gloves
To prepare A4 sized sheets we use a 3mm thick piece of PMMA sheet also known as “Perspex”, “Plexiglass” or just “acrylic”. We call this the “carrier sheet”. we use about a 5 cm border all around when an A4 photosheet is placed in the centre. (A3 sized sheets will of course require an A3 sized sheet plus an extra border). This sheet does not have to be transparent, but it should not be white as that will cause back-scatter when it is supporting a sheet of film in the projector beam. A glass sheet is also good but less user-friendly and as it has to be handled a lot, the sharp edges and corners should be smoothed off.

Blyth, J. & Richardson, M. De Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester, LE1 9BH

Non-holographic imaging systems