Introduction to Salted Paper Printing

In this hands-on workshop, participants will explore salted paper printing, the pioneering 19th-century process that harnesses the light-sensitive nature of silver salts and the power of the sun to produce beautifully warm, aubergine-tinged images on paper. More than a historical curiosity, this approach can be made relevant to a contemporary, digital or film-based artistic practice.

Workshop participants will be guided through the process of making a salted paper print by hand, from paper sensitization and contact printing in a UV unit to processing and drying. Techniques for creating basic digital negatives will also be discussed.

Attendees must submit a digital image two weeks prior to the workshop. The instructors will produce a digital negative based on this image for use on the day of the session. Those taking part can expect to leave with a small salted paper print they have created, the digital negative from which it was produced, and a handout detailing the topics covered.

No previous darkroom experience is needed.

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Bio:

Shalan and Paul are photographers, based in Toronto, whose work revolves around themes of identity, alienation, mortality, and the fragility of memory.

Their editorial work has been featured in a variety of domestic and international publications, and they frequently collaborate on commissions with influential individuals and brands. Notably, they recently authored a 12–part educational series “Lightroom in Black & White” for Adobe.

Image Credit: Facade (detail), Salted Paper Print, 2025

Host or Publisher Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography