Elective: Tricolor Gum Bichromate Printing Workshop
Saturday, Sunday
Photoworks Studio
6/27/26
-
6/28/26
Date
9:00 AM
-
6:00 PM
Time
Price
$425
Duration
2
About the Course
Learn to create richly layered, hand-coated photographic prints using the tricolor gum bichromate process. Explore how to prepare paper, mix and apply emulsions, make and use digital CMY separation negatives, and expose and develop multi-layered prints. Learn the full workflow of this expressive alternative photographic technique and take home your own unique prints. $50 lab fee at first class for individual pigment set payable to instructor. Minimum age 18.
More info: christopher.gumm.photography@gmail.com.
Step back into the tactile, alchemical world of 19th-century photography in this hands-on weekend course focused on the tricolor gum bichromate process. Over two days, participants will explore the full workflow of creating multicolor prints using traditional materials—pigments, gum arabic, and dichromate sensitizer—layered by hand to build up cyan, magenta, and yellow separations from digital negatives.
Ideal for artists, photographers, or printmakers curious about alternative processes, this class will guide you through:
Preparing paper for coating
Mixing gum bichromate emulsions
Creating and using digital CMY separation negatives
Layering exposures with UV light
Developing and troubleshooting your prints
Experimenting with color control and creative effects
Participants will leave the course with a foundational understanding of the tricolor method and several completed prints. No previous experience with alternative processes is required, though basic familiarity with Photoshop (for negative creation) is helpful.
All materials provided. Bring your own digital files (300 dpi TIFFs recommended) to create personalized negatives, or work with sample images provided by the instructor.
Your Instructor
Christopher Gumm
Christopher originally started taking photos his senior year of high school when he needed an elective course to fill his schedule, and was captivated by the balance of artistic expression and the technical components of capturing light. As an Aerospace Engineer, he brings a technical approach to his processes that allow for a more controlled workflow while also creating an space to explore creatively. Christopher's passions in photography are focused around bending and capturing artificial light along with exploring the outdoors. Once the image is captured, however, the final part of the process is printing the scene to honor the fleeting yet frozen moment in time.