Posterization wins for me - photographic tone technique

Posterization is a technique in which the continuous tones of a photograph are squeezed into two, three or four tones. If the original is a transparency a three tone separation would be made by exposing three sheets of high contrast film like Kodalith, or a hard grade of paper. One exposure is just sufficient to record the shadow details, another to record the mid-tones, and the third enough to record the highlight details only. If paper negatives are used, some of the texture of the paper will be included in the final print.

If the original is a negative (color or black-and-white) separation positives are first made, and these are then printed again to secure negatives.

Some form of registration is necessary so that the images can be registered with one another at the time exposure of the final positive print is made. Usually a mechanical pin registering system may be used. A suitable one might be fabricated from an office punch, for example. Visual registration can be accomplished by placing the negatives on a large sheet of glass for registering by transmitted light. One edge of each of these negatives are then taped so that in the darkroom they can be folded over the sensitized paper in succession to produce a registered image.

In printing one starts with the shadow negative (lightest image), with the exposure time adjusted to obtain a light gray tone. The mid tone negative is then printed with the same exposure, and finally the highlight negative is given the same exposure. After the print is processed, the exposure time(s) may be adjusted to secure the desired effect.

Final prints can be modified further by toning, such as with direct sepia, or one of the other toners. Texture screens can be employed in several ways to enhance the creative effort.

Kodak Publication KW-21, "Darkroom Expression" (96 pages) $8.95, goes into more detail. They at one time published a pamphlet, E-93, that dealt with Photo Posterization, although this is no longer available.

Another reference is "Tone Separation and Posterization," by Albert P. Bekker, APSA, which appeared in the PSA Journal, October 1978, page 22.

Also, "Easy Half-Tones," by Carole Honigsfeld, APSA in the PSA Journal August 1979, pages 12-14, adds some variations to the technique.

Aftab Ahmad, FPSA, from Rawalpindi, Pakistan and PSA member since 1983, likes to experiment with various photographic techniques. He exploits them effectively to a considerable artistic advantage. The Prime Minister of Pakistan has awarded Ahmad a gold medal and Rs. 100,000 for his photographic skills. He was also awarded the President's Medal for Pride of Performance for his achievements in photographic art. He has 69 medals and is in the top 25 monochrome exhibitors.

COPYRIGHT 1992 Photographic Society of America, Inc.
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