Polaroid Transfer, Patinas, and some of my Favorite Books

    Polaroid Image and Emulsion Transfers
Polaroid Transfers: A Complete Visual Guide to Creating Image and Emulsion Transfers by Kathleen Thormod Carr, published by Amphoto Books in 1997, describes the art of transferring photographic images onto surfaces as varied as fabric, wood, and watercolor paper. The book also includes a gallery of works of noted transfer artists. This book introduced me to image and emulsion transfers.

CONTENTS: Part 1: Creating Polaroid Image and Emulsion transfers: 1. Getting ready, 2. Making Polaroid image transfers, 3. Making Polaroid Emulsion transfers, 4. Creative techniques, 5. Handcoloring transfers. Part 2: Further explorations: 6. Advanced techniques: Equipment and procedures, 7. Fine art and commercial applications. Part 3: Gallery

From Editorial Reviews: This indispensable resource includes detailed, hands-on instructions; dozens of step-by-step procedures; and scores of no-fail creative techniques that add depth and creativity to Polaroid image manipulation. this companion volume to Polaroid Transfers includes an incredible gallery of 20 leading artists who use this process in their own photography.

Photographer's Guide to Polaroid Transfer by Christopher Grey, published by Amherst Media, Inc., is a hands-on introduction to Polaroid transfers. I like the series of image transfers done with the same exposure settings, but different times.

Contents: Introduction to Transfer and Lift-Off, Films and Receptors, Basic Polaroid Image Transfer, Special Image Transfer Techniques, Dry Transfer Techniques, Transfers with Polacolor Pro 100 Material, Tips and Tricks for Image Transfers, Emulsion Lift-Off, Tips and Tricks for Emulsion Lift-Off, Printing Techniques, Care and Keeping of Final Images, What's New, What's Next, Finding Markets for Your Work, Afterword, Index

    Metalworking and Patinas
The Complete Metalsmith : An Illustrated Handbook by Tim McCreight, published by Davis Publications, introduced me to metalsmithing and patinas. This is a book that is easy to carry around and to keep in a studio. This is an introductory text, great breadth, covers a lot of topics in an easy to understand language. The metals discussed in the book include gold, platinum, silver, copper, bronze, iron and steel.

Contents:
Materials, Surfaces, Shaping, Joining, Casting, Stones, Mechanisms, Tools, Reference

The Colouring, Bronzing, and Patination of Metals by Richard Hughes and Michael Rowe is published by Watson-GuptillPublications / Whitney Library of Design. I am using this book when I want to find a patina I would like to use. There are thousands of recipes you can choose from. The metals discussed are cast bronze, cast yellow brass, copper and copper-plate, gilding metal, silver and silver-plate.

Contents:
Preface, Acknowledgements, Metal Colouring Techniques, The Plates, The Recipes, Safety, Appendices, Bibliography
    Favorites
Lost Science by Gerry Vassilatos, published in 1999, brings to light several unusual discoveries that were swept under the rug by powerful interests.

Contents:
1. Luminous World: Baron Karl Von Reichenbach, 2. Hearing Through Wires: Antonio Meucci, 3. Earth Energy and Vocal Radio: Nathan Stubblefield, 4. Broadcast Power: Nikola Tesla, 5. Ultra Microscopes and Cure Rays: R. Raymond Rife, 6. Heaven's Rain of Rock and Ice, 7. Electrogravitic Engines: Thomas Townsend Brown, 8. Deadly Sound: Gavreau, 9. The Fusor Reactor: Philo Farnsworth, 10. Mind, Fire and Thermodynamics.

Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything, William Morrow, 2006, ISBN: 0061234001.

Fron the editorial review: In Freakonomics (written with Stephen J. Dubner), Levitt argues that many apparent mysteries of everyday life don't need to be so mysterious: they could be illuminated and made even more fascinating by asking the right questions and drawing connections. For example, Levitt traces the drop in violent crime rates to a drop in violent criminals and, digging further, to the Roe v. Wade decision that preempted the existence of some people who would be born to poverty and hardship

Andrzej Gutek's TTU Page

Last updated on December 3, 2006