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The paper negative process consists of using a negative printed on paper (either photographically or digitally) to create the final print of a photograph, as opposed to using a modern negative on a film base of cellulose acetate. The plastic acetate negative (which is what modern films produce) enables the printing of a very sharp image intended to be as close a representation of the actual subject as is possible. By using a negative based on paper instead, there is the possibility of creating a more ethereal image, simply by using a type of paper with a very visible grain, or by drawing on the paper or distressing it in some way.

One of the original forms of photography was based on the paper negative process. William Henry Fox Talbot's paper negative process, which was used to create his work "The Pencil of Nature", used a negative created on paper treated with silver salts, which was exposed in a camera obscura to create the negative and then contact printed on a similar paper to produce a positive image.

When Talbot created this process it was intended to be a way to reproduce nature as accurately as possible (hence the name of his work, "The Pencil of Nature"). Through the years afterwards, however, better and more accurate ways of producing exact replicas of nature were developed, and these processes relegated the paper negative process to obsolescence.

The process of the paper negative is still relevant, though, in the realm of alternative-process photography. Photographers employing alternative processes reject the idea of the exact replica of nature and seek to use the inherent inexactness of antiquated processes to create a more personal and emotional image. The paper negative is an extremely versatile process that allows all manner of reworking and retouching of an image, and is the perfect medium to bridge the gap between camera operator and artist.

References

Enfield, Jill. Photo-Imaging: A Complete Guide to Alternative Processes (Photography for All Levels: Advanced)
James, Christopher. The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes
Webb, Randall and Martin Reed. Alternative Photographic Processes: A Working Guide for Image Makers

External links

[Shadows and Light: The Paper Negative] A Short Essay on the Paper Negative and Early Examples

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+The '''paper negative''' process consists of using a [[Negative (photography)|negative]] printed on [[paper]] (either photographically or digitally) to create the final print of a [[photograph]], as opposed to using a modern negative on a [[film base]] of [[cellulose acetate]].  The plastic acetate negative (which is what modern films produce) enables the printing of a very sharp image intended to be as close a representation of the actual subject as is possible.  By using a negative based on paper instead, there is the possibility of creating a more ethereal image, simply by using a type of paper with a very visible grain, or by drawing on the paper or distressing it in some way.
-<nowiki>Insert non-formatted text here</nowiki>  The paper negative process consists of using a negative printed on paper (either
- photographically or digitally) to create the final print of a photograph, as opposed to using
- a traditional negative on a base of plastic acetate.  The plastic acetate negative (which is
- what modern films produce) enable the printing of a very sharp image intended to be as close a
-representation of the actual subject as is possible.  By using a negative based on paper
-instead, there is the possibility of creating a more ethereal image, simply by using a paper
-with a very visible grain, or by drawing on the paper, or distressing it in some way.
+One of the original forms of [[photography]] was based on the paper negative process. William Henry Fox Talbot's paper negative process, which was used to create his work "[[The Pencil of Nature]]", used a negative created on paper treated with [[silver]] salts, which was exposed in a [[camera obscura]] to create the negative and then [[Contact printing|contact printed]] on a similar paper to produce a [[Positive (photography)|positive]] image.
-  One of the original forms of photography was based on the paper negative process. Talbot's
-waxed-paper negative process, which was used to create his work "The Pencil of Nature", used a
-negative created on paper treated with silver salts, which was exposed in a camera obscura to
-create the negative and then contact printed on a similar paper to produce a positive
-image.
-  When Talbot created this process it was intended to be a way to reproduce nature as
+When Talbot created this process it was intended to be a way to reproduce nature as accurately as possible (hence the name of his work, "The Pencil of Nature"). Through the years afterwards, however, better and more accurate ways of producing exact replicas of nature were developed, and these processes relegated the paper negative process to obsolescence.
-accurately as possible (hence the name of his work, "The Pencil of Nature").  Through the years
-afterward, however, better and more accurate ways of producing exact replicas of nature were
-developed, and these processes relegated the paper negative process to obsolescence.  Now that
-we have mega-mega pixel digital cameras sporting the finest of Zeiss lenses and super-fine-
-grained emulsion films being used in state-of-the-art autofocus cameras, we have achieved the
-clarity and exactness of detail that Talbot and his contemporaries could only have dreamed
-of.
-  The process of the paper negative is still relevent, though, in the realm of alternative-
-process photography.  Photographers employing alternative processes reject the idea of the
-exact replica of nature and seek to use the inherent inexactness of antiquated processes to
-create a more personal and emotional image.  The paper negative is an extremely versatile
-process that allows all manner of reworking and retouching of an image, and is the perfect
-medium to bridge the gap between camera operator and artist.
+The process of the paper negative is still relevant, though, in the realm of alternative-process photography.  Photographers employing alternative processes reject the idea of the exact replica of nature and seek to use the inherent inexactness of antiquated processes to create a more personal and emotional image.  The paper negative is an extremely versatile process that allows all manner of reworking and retouching of an image, and is the perfect medium to bridge the gap between [[camera operator]] and [[artist]].
+==See also==
+* [[Contact printing]]
+* [[Calotype]]
+* [[Paper texture effects in calotype photography]]
 == References ==
+*[[Jill Enfield|Enfield, Jill]]. ''Photo-Imaging: A Complete Guide to Alternative Processes (Photography for All Levels: Advanced)''
-'''''The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes'''''
+*James, Christopher. ''The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes''
-by Christopher James
+*Webb, Randall and Martin Reed. ''Alternative Photographic Processes: A Working Guide for Image Makers''
+== External links ==
-'''''Photo-Imaging: A Complete Guide to Alternative Processes (Photography for All Levels: Advanced)'''''
+* [Shadows and Light: The Paper Negative] A Short Essay on the Paper Negative and Early Examples
-by Jill Enfield
+[[Category:Photographic processes dating from the 19th century]]
-'''''Alternative Photographic Processes: A Working Guide for Image Makers'''''
+{{photography-stub}}
-by Randall Webb, Martin Reed