Quick Answer
Liquid light emulsion lets you turn almost any surface into a photographic print. Use Rollei Black Magic to coat glass, wood, metal, or fabric, then expose and develop it like a darkroom print.
Why Liquid Light Emulsion Expands Your Printing Options
Traditional darkroom printing is limited to paper. Liquid photo emulsion removes that limitation, letting you print onto surfaces you already have around the studio or home. Because the emulsion is a light-sensitive coating, you apply it yourself, expose it under an enlarger, and develop it with standard paper chemicals.
The main trade-off is preparation. Unlike paper, non-porous surfaces like glass or metal need a careful cleaning and sometimes a sub-coating to help the emulsion stick. Porous surfaces like wood or fabric absorb the emulsion unevenly, so you may need multiple coats. Plan for a little trial and error on your first project.
How to Use Liquid Light Emulsion: Step-by-Step
- Prepare your surface: Clean the surface thoroughly to remove dust, grease, or fingerprints. For non-porous surfaces like glass or metal, use a mild detergent and rinse well; for porous surfaces like wood or fabric, sand lightly to smooth the grain. A clean, dry surface prevents emulsion from beading or peeling.
- Set up a safelight environment: Work under a red or amber safelight, just like with photographic paper. Turn off all white light before opening the emulsion bottle, because the emulsion is light-sensitive. Check that your safelight is the correct type for graded emulsions; too bright or wrong color can fog the coating.
- Apply the emulsion: Pour a small amount of Rollei Black Magic emulsion onto the surface and spread it evenly with a foam brush or a soft sponge brush. Use smooth, overlapping strokes to avoid streaks. For porous surfaces, apply a second coat after the first dries. Thin, even coats dry faster and produce more consistent tones than one thick coat.
- Dry in the dark: Place the coated surface in a dark, dust-free area to dry. Drying time varies with temperature and humidity; it can take from 30 minutes to a few hours. Keep it level so the emulsion doesn't pool to one side. Test dryness by touching a corner; if it feels tacky, wait longer.
- Expose under an enlarger: Place your negative in the enlarger and set the aperture and exposure time as you would for paper. Do a test strip on a small coated area to find the correct exposure, because the surface and emulsion thickness affect the result. Write down your test strip settings; they'll be your starting point for the final print.
- Develop, stop, and fix: Use standard black-and-white paper developer, stop bath, and fixer. Develop for the recommended time, agitating gently. Rinse in stop bath, then fix for the required time. Finally, wash in running water. Use fresh chemicals; exhausted fixer can leave white milky areas on the print.
- Rinse and dry: After the final wash, gently remove excess water and let the print dry in a dust-free area. Some surfaces may need a protective spray or varnish to guard against scratches, especially if you plan to handle the print often. For glass or metal, consider a clear sealant to protect the emulsion from moisture and abrasion.
Products Mentioned
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Rollei Black Magic RBM2 Emulsion - Graded 300ml: Rollei Black Magic RBM2 Emulsion – Graded 300ml can coat light sensitive photographic emulsions onto almost any kind of surface: glass, wood, textile fabric, ceramics, metal, stone, plastics etc. This single-bottle option is ideal if you already have the other modular components or want to start with a smaller quantity for testing.
Rollei Black Magic RBM2 Emulsion - Graded 300ml
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Rollei Black Magic Kit - Graded: Rollei Black Magic Kit – Graded is a complete modular system with interchangeable components in Graded (G3) or VC (G0-4) options. The kit gives you everything needed for your first liquid emulsion project, so you don't have to source components separately.
Rollei Black Magic Kit - Graded
