Resources
A few links to help anyone who has an interest in trying Bromoils:
National Science and Media Museum Blog – https://blog.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/introduction-bromoil-process/
An introduction by the museum in the UK written in 2011. The technical bit was written by Kate Rouse. The list of suppliers will now be defunct and the recommendations on papers would need updating. The page refers to the ‘The Bromoil Circle Postal Club’ for more information.
International Society of Bromoilists. - http://www.bromoil.info/index.html
A useful site with a page devoted to techniques such as colour transfers, Mediobrom and Oil Pigment prints: http://www.bromoil.info/articles.html
Unblinking Eye – https://www.unblinkingeye.com/Articles/Brom/brom.html
One of the best sites for alt-pro techniques, but alas it has not been kept up to date. The site features noted alt-pro printers like Sandy King, Christina Anderson and Sam Wang as well as Ed Buffaloe himself. Ed Buffaloe’s ‘preliminary notes on Bromoil’ is where I started my own Bromoil experimentation.
A helpful article by Tom Schulte, slightly marred by the site’s advertising.
The Historic New Orleans Collection – https://www.hnoc.org/virtual/daguerreotype-digital/bromoil-and-bromoil-transfer-processes
Just a mention of the technique. The reproduction of a bromoil transfer print - ‘Old Arsenal’ by Joseph Woodson is something to behold though.
Alternative Processes – https://www.alternativephotography.com/category/gallery-by-process/bromoil-photographers/
A gallery of some Bromoil workers.
At https://www.alternativephotography.com/processes/, there are some useful documents:
https://www.alternativephotography.com/introduction-to-oil-and-bromoil-printing/
Jacques Kever, one of the founders of Picto-Benelux, introduces the history and the basic technique of Bromoil. This is a good introductory overview of the process but needs updating for the papers that work for the technique.
The article gives the following references for follow-up. Of these, I would particularly point to David Lewis’s and Gene Laughter’s books.
· Der Bromöldruck – Dr. A. Mebes — 1914
· Bromoil Printing and Bromoil Transfer, Dr. Emil Mayer – 1923
· Perfection in the Pigment Processes, Chris J. Symes, 1924
· Bromoil and Transfer, Leonard G. Gabriel – 1930
· La Technique Photographique, L.P. Clerc, 1947
· La Photographie à l’Huile, E. Trutat – Bibl. Photorevue, série bleue n°5
· The Keepers of Light, William Crawford, 1979
· History and Practice of Oil and Bromoil Printing, Luis Nadeau, 1985
· The art of Bromoil & Transfer, David Lewis, 1994
· Bromoil 101, Gene Laughter, 1999
A cure for white spots by Dave Symonds - https://www.alternativephotography.com/bromoil-process-white-spots/
George Smyth’s summary of the situation with papers (which could do with an update) but still useful: https://www.alternativephotography.com/papers-for-the-bromoil-process/
The Schildt way of oilprints; - https://www.alternativephotography.com/the-oilprint-process-schildt
The Thijs way of oilprints: - https://www.alternativephotography.com/the-oilprint-process/
The Gumoil process by Kelly Wrage: - https://www.alternativephotography.com/the-gumoil-process/
I would mention Dan Dozer’s book (full book and kindle version) ‘The New Bromoil Process’, which provides a modern approach to the older traditional practices involving photographic emulsion rather than photographic paper.
Finally, the private Facebook group (Bromoil and Oil), which I started, is a great place to start, particularly if you are new to Bromoil or Oil. Members are very helpful.