Platinotype

Platinotype is a way to make fancy pictures using a special chemical called "platinum".

First, you need to have a negative image of the picture you want to make. This is like a "reverse" version of the picture, which will show up white where the picture is dark and black where the picture is light.

Next, you mix together some special chemicals containing platinum and paint them onto a piece of paper. Once the paper is dry, you place your negative on top of the paper and shine a bright light through it. This makes a copy of the negative on the paper in the platinum chemicals.

The paper is then washed in water to remove the extra chemicals and voila! You have a beautifully toned photograph that shines in a unique silvery-gray color.

Platinotype pictures are really special not just because they look amazing, but also because they can last for hundreds of years without fading like other types of pictures.