Platinum / Palladium Print
1873–presentThe most beautiful photographic prints — noble metals embedded in paper fiber. Warm greys with infinite subtlety.
Iron salts reduce to platinum or palladium metal within paper fibers. Image is IN the paper, not ON it.
International
Favored by Stieglitz, Strand, Weston. The gold standard of fine art photography. Still practiced today.
Platinum sits within paper fiber — no surface coating. This gives an extraordinary matte quality and tonal subtlety impossible in silver prints.
Platinum warm black
Warm, dense black — but never pure black like carbon.
Material: Platinum metal in paper fiber, maximum density
RGB(42, 36, 32)
Platinum silver grey
Neutral silver-grey of pure platinum.
Material: Platinum metal, medium density
RGB(139, 138, 128)
Palladium warm
Warmer, browner tone of palladium prints.
Material: Palladium metal in paper fiber
RGB(123, 106, 90)
Rag paper white
Warm white of fine rag paper — integral to the image.
Material: 100% cotton rag paper, unsized
RGB(241, 224, 208)
Split-tone brown
Warm brown in shadows when platinum/palladium are mixed.
Material: Platinum-palladium mixture, high density
RGB(90, 74, 56)
Mist grey
Pale grey of atmospheric highlights — extraordinary subtlety.
Material: Platinum, low density in paper fiber
RGB(184, 176, 168)
Related Materials
If this palette inspired you, here’s what to paint with.
Faber-Castell Pitt Charcoal Set, 24 PieceView on Amazon
Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolour Studio Set, 24 Whole PansView on Amazon
Moleskine Art Plus Watercolor Album, LargeView on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate, Pigmentoria earns from qualifying purchases. This page may contain affiliate links.