The Last Layer: New Methods in Digital Printing for Photography, Fine Art, and Mixed Media (Voices That Matter)

In The Last Layer–the follow-up to Digital Alchemy, her successful book on alternative printmaking techniques–Bonny Lhotka teaches how to make prints that take their inspiration from early printmaking processes. In this book, Lhotka shows readers step-by-step how to create modern-day versions of anthotypes, cyanotypes, tintypes, and daguerreotypes as well as platinum and carbon prints. She also reinvents the photogravure and Polaroid transfer processes and explores and explains groundbreaking techniques for combining digital images with traditional monotype, collograph, and etching press prints. By applying these classic techniques to modern images, readers will be able to recreate the look of historical printmaking techniques and explore the limits of their creative voice. Best of all, the only equipment required is a desktop inkjet printer that uses pigment inks, and a handful of readily available materials and supplies–not the toxic chemicals once required to perform these very same processes.

Leveraging her training as a traditional painter and printmaker, Bonny Lhotka brings new innovations and inventions that combine the best of centuries of printmaking technique with modern technology to create unique works of art and photography. After years of experimentation and development, these new processes allow alternative photographers, traditional printer makers, and 21st century digital artists to express their creative voice in ways never before possible. 

An inventor and innovator, Bonny Pierce Lhotka is a co-founder of the digital artist collaborative, Digital Atelier, whose members research and develop techniques to leverage digital imaging in fine art application. Lhotka organized “Digital Atelier: A printmaking studio for the 21st century” at the Smithsonian American Art Museum where she was an Artist-in-Residence for three weeks. She is a recipient of the Smithsonian/Computerworld Technology in the Arts Award and is the producer of educational DVDs from Digital Art Studio Seminars. Lhotka is the author of Digital Alchemy: Printmaking techniques for fine art, photography, and mixed media.

Preface 

Forward

Section I: Basics

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Materials

Chapter 3: Equipment

Chapter 4: Finding a Voice

Section II: Aged Aluminum Plates

Chapter 5: Introduction to Aged Plates

Chapter 6: new Vintage Tintypes transfer

Chapter 7: Direct Imaging to Aged Plates 

Chapter 8: Gallery of Work                       

Section III: Transformed by Light

Chapter 9: Introduction to Photosensitive Processes

Chapter 10: Photopolymer Plate Process

Chapter 11: Chlorophyll Emulsion Process

Chapter 12: Flow Blue Fabrics

Chapter 13: Gallery of Work

Section IV: Creative Substrates

Chapter 14: Introduction to Creative Substrates

Chapter 15: Transfer to Flexible Substrates

Chapter 16: Mixed Media / Layered Transfers

Chapter 17: Stone Paper Monoprints

Chapter 18: Pearloid Transfer to Glass

Chapter 19: Gallery of Work

Section V: Finishing up and New Work

Chapter 20: Postcoats and Finishing

Chapter 21: Gallery of Work