Create a Daguerreotype

Photoshop Tutorial What is a Daguerreotype?

• A daguerreotype was the first publicly announced type of photographic process, created in 1839 by a couple of French scientists. What is the process?

• Step 1: Polish and buff a silver-coated copper plate. • Step 2: Sensitize the plate by exposing it to iodine and bromine fumes. • Step 3: Load the plate into the camera (completely light proof) • Step 4: The subject was placed in front of the camera and the pose was help using clamps and stands. • Step 5: The protective slide is removed and the lens cap is taken off. • Step 6: Wait for 15 – 30 minutes to expose the image. In 1841 this was reduced to 20-90 seconds. Problems faced when creating a daguerreotype in Photoshop. • Due to the long exposure of a daguerreotype, we need to make our photos look blurred in the correct places. • We will also have to manipulate our photo onto some sort of metal plate surface and create the correct chemical staining. Things to Consider

• When choosing an image for this tutorial you need to remember that daguerreotypes we long exposures. If possible choose an image with a long exposure. • People were rarely documented in a landscape photograph. Consider cloning people out of your photograph. Open an Image

• Open your image in Photoshop. (File > Open) Add an Adjustment Layer

• We need to make the photograph black & white so add a black & white adjustment layer. Add Metal Textures

• When shooting a real daguerreotype you would have shot the image onto a silver surface. Therefore we need to add the surface scratches that the plate would have most likely incurred over the years Add A Metal Texture

Make sure you drag your texture below the black and white adjustment layer so that your texture is black and white. I found that overlay, soft light, and screen work the best. Play with Blending Modes

Play with the blending modes and opacity until your texture is blended into your photograph. Add A Photo Filter

Add an adjustment layer for Photo Filter. Make sure this layer is at the top of the layer palette. Add A Photo Filter

Choose the warming filter and set your density to around 25% to create a soft glow. Stain the Edges

• When dealing with chemicals, often the edges of the image became stained. The stain is usually an orange or blue color, due to the oxidation of the silver plate. • On a new layer using a large soft brush, paint some orange circles (#ff9700). Reduce the opacity to between 10-30%. Then repeat this again with a blue color. This staining will be more intense in some areas than others. • See example image on the next slide.

Add A Vignette

• A large number of real daguerreotypes contain a light vignette so we will add one to our images. Add a new layer. Image > Apply Image Click OK Filter > Lens Correction Choose the custom tab.

Adjust settings as you see necessary. Final Results Save your file and upload it to Dropbox: lastname_firstname_daguerreotype.jpg YOU ARE FINISHED!