The Albumen Print - A Practical Guide

“Albumen Print: Practical Guide” by Radosław Brzozowski is the first comprehensive English-language publication dedicated to one of the most important historic photographic processes – the albumen print. The author, also known for the highly regarded “Ambrotype – Practical Guide,” presents a fully practical approach to albumen printing based on many years of experience in alternative photography and historic photographic techniques.

The publication is a complete, hands-on manual for both beginners and advanced practitioners who want to explore albumen printing in depth, including chemical recipes, workflow control, and advanced image-making techniques.

With nearly 150 pages, it serves as a complete reference for independently working with the albumen process – from setting up a darkroom to presenting finished prints.

Who is this book for?

• beginners entering alternative photography and historic photographic processes
• photographers working with 19th-century techniques such as albumen printing, cyanotype, or collodion
• analogue photography enthusiasts and handmade process practitioners
• educators, students, and artists seeking practical technical knowledge

What does the book cover?

“Albumen Print: Practical Guide” provides a detailed step-by-step overview of the entire albumen printing workflow, including:

• setting up and equipping a dedicated albumen printing workspace
• required tools, materials, and photographic equipment
• albumen solution recipes and preparation instructions
• selection of suitable papers for albumen printing
• preparation of glossy and matte albumen papers using different methods
• full step-by-step description of the albumen printing process
• development and fixing techniques for prints
• recipes for working solutions and developers
• ten albumen toner formulas with preparation methods and visual examples
• overview of historical and modern negatives used in albumen printing
• instructions for preparing wet collodion negatives
• guidance on contrast control and image quality

Visual documentation

The book includes nearly 100 photographs and illustrations documenting each stage of the process, making complex techniques easier to understand for both beginners and advanced users.

Why choose this book?

“Albumen Print: Practical Guide” is not just a theoretical introduction but a complete practical manual for working in historic photographic processes. It is a comprehensive resource for mastering one of the most beautiful and technically demanding 19th-century photographic techniques.

Other publications

Readers are also encouraged to explore other titles by the author and Szlachetna Fotografia dedicated to ambrotype, cyanotype, pigment processes, and traditional silver-based photography.