ALT 101 - A Contact Printing Workshop

ALT 101: An Alt Process Trilogy

(Cyanotype, Van Dyke & Salt Printing – 3-Day Workshop)

Experience the joy of slow creativity and discover the world of alternative photographic processes across 3 days at the CPB Community Darkroom. Designed for both beginners and experienced image-makers, ALT 101 introduces you to the magic of contact printing - the oldest and most hands-on print-making technique in photography.

Over three days, you’ll learn and practice three historic printing processes:

• Cyanotype
• Van Dyke Brown Printing
• Salt Printing

Learn to create digital negatives, coat your own papers, print under UV light, and finish your prints for exhibition display. Whether you’re a photographer, artist, designer, or printmaker, this workshop invites you to slow down and experiment, and make something tangible and beautiful with your hands. The beauty of alternative photographic printing is in the imperfections; you will have the opportunity to experiment and create multiple prints from your photographs. 

To attend this workshop, you do not require any camera or image-making equipment. Each participant will make 3 negatives from their own images - you can bring photos from your family albums, mobile phones or digital/film cameras. The CPB Darkroom will provide all materials, chemistry, paper and equipment you will need to participate in the workshop.

We offer a 25% discount for students with the submission of a valid student ID. The workshop involves the careful handling of hazardous chemicals (gloves to be provided). We welcome participants over the age of 16 years; younger participants may attend in tandem with their parents or guardians on a case-by-case basis.

Workshop Schedule

July 18th-20th 2025

Day 1: Cyanotype & Digital Negatives(3PM-7PM)

Day 2: Van Dyke Brown & Salt Printing(10AM-6PM)

Day 3: Salt Printing(10AM-6PM)

What You Will Learn

• Making of digital negatives

• Working in the darkroom

• Various methods of coating paper

• Hands-on experience with Cyanotype, Van Dyke, and Salt printing

• Final touches to prints & preparing them for exhibition

• Troubleshooting tone, contrast, and coating techniques

• Gaining confidence to continue your practice at home or at the CPB Darkroom

Who is this workshop for?

This workshop is designed for:

• Beginners interested in analogue photography

• Photographers exploring alternative printing methods

• Artists & designers looking for experimental techniques

• Printmakers & fine art students

No prior darkroom or printing experience required. Ages 16+

Workshop Cost

• ₹12,500 per participant

• 25% discount for students with a valid student ID

• Limited to 8 participants for an intimate, hands-on experience

• Venue: CPB Foundation, Kottivakkam, Chennai.

Scholarship Information

One scholarship seat is available for this workshop. The scholarship covers only the workshop fee and does not include:

• Travel to/from Chennai

• Local transport

• Accommodation
  

Deadline - June 15th 2025

This is not an all-expenses-paid opportunity. Applicants are expected to make their own arrangements for travel and stay.

All scholarship applications will be reviewed on the basis of merit. The selected recipient will be notified via email on June 18, 2025. Confirmation of acceptance must be received within 24 hours. If confirmation is not received within this time frame, the scholarship will be offered to the next eligible applicant.

Scholarship form: https://forms.gle/idYYbLxAT97FRFzP6

Terms and Conditions

• The scholarship covers only the cost of the workshop.

• It does not include travel, local transport, or accommodation.

• Applications must be submitted before the stated deadline.

• Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

• There will be no deadline extensions.

• All applicants must be the original creators of their submitted work and retain full copyright ownership.

• The CPB Foundation reserves the right to disqualify any applicant for valid reasons, including but not limited to ineligibility, misconduct, or non-compliance with submission requirements.

• All decisions made by CPB are final and binding.

About the CPB Community Darkroom:

We are at a critical juncture in human history. With the birth of promptography, we are now in a new age of imagery generated by Artificial Intelligence where the sanctity of the photograph is in question. As if a billion images an hour made on millions of mobile phones was not enough, now a mere thought can generate high-definition images in just about any style you can imagine. In response, the desire to return to the roots of the photographic medium grows stronger by the day. 

The CPB Community Darkroom has been established at this critical juncture as a hub for the experimentation and practice of analogue photography in its many avatars. Serving a diverse range of interests from film and traditional darkroom printing to alternative printing processes, the Darkroom looks to attract varied audiences from across Chennai and beyond.

• The darkroom will be open to members as well as the public via a booking system and will be able to provide readily accessible stocks of chemistry, film and paper. 
• The darkroom will offer regular introductory and advanced workshops in all areas of film photography as well as alternative printing processes like cyanotype, van dyke brown and salt printing and many others. 
• The darkroom will serve as a research hub for experimentation in analogue photography and will put out freely available articles and videos on the subject.
• The darkroom will offer a range of products that include re-spooled film rolls, experimental film chemistry, alternative printing kits, pre-coated papers, digital negatives and more.
• The darkroom will offer commercial film development, scanning and printing services including alternative printing services.
• The darkroom will be available for resident artists to work on projects and experiment with historical photographic processes.