Frequently Asked Questions

What is the The Modern Ferrotype Process?

  • Acquire a digital image. This can be from a digital camera or a scan of an existing photograph.
  • Computer process the image so that the color is correct for the metal surface (patent applied for).
  • Make a mirror image of the photograph.
  • Print the image on a laser printer transfer sheet (a plastic coated heavy paper).
  • Transfer the image to the metal surface using a t-shirt pressure/heat press (settings are a trade secret).
  • Some post-transfer adjustments (another trade secret).
  • Bend the metal if needed.
  • Bake the metal to harden the image.
  • Post-baking processing step (patent applied for).


Where did the name and idea for Modern Ferrotype come from?

While looking through a photography exhibit I saw some old tintype and ferrotype images. I liked the look and thought about how to make the modern equivalent.  I knew about color laser printer transfers and that the process would work on brushed stainless steel.  After a lot of experimentation I was able to produce a good quality image on mirrored finished stainless steel.  I had shot some infrared images in Utah and when printed on the mirrored finished stainless steel, these images bore a close resemblance to the old ferrotype images.  The process is unrelated to the ferrotypes of the 1800's, but the resulting image is close.

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