The Last Layer: New methods in digital printing for photography, fine art, and mixed media

by Bonny Pierce Lhotka

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. 

Genres: Photography

322 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 16, 2013

Reviews

[Suzrube · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good information and food for thought

I enjoyed looking at alternative ways to output artwork, good for generating ideas and also a nice book for previously unknown resources.

[Jake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnificent book to ignite creativity and provide inspiration founded on science and art. Directed towards anyone looking to enhance their work or to define something new.

[Leigh Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up randomly and was impressed by the techniques you can use to combine digital art and traditional methods to make some pretty cool prints indeed. This is advanced stuff, and many of the materials are dangerous (we're talking safety goggles, gloves, and well-ventilated areas here), but if you're a Photoshop whiz and/or a long-practicing print-maker already, you might want to give it a whirl. All of the techniques are clearly explained in logical steps, with helpful illustrations. Complete lists of supplies are included for each kind of project, too. And now I know a lot more than I ever thought I would about creating substrates, and fixing a printer so that you can run a substrate through it and put a digital image on top. I want to get Lhotka's first book, Digital Alchemy, to see if I can get some beginner tips that might someday work me up to this stage.

[PJ Ebbrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. Lots of practical ideas and images to get you started.

[Melissa Shmish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Household chemicals and appliances like an electric turkey roaster used in printmaking and multimedia art? Yes, contained within, alongside step-by-step instructions for doing such.

[Jeni · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book for experimenting with new ways to create work with photographic images. A good jumping off point for your own experiments.