19/07/2026
The magic of Oil Gum Printing 🎞️✨
Watch a portrait come to life through one of photography's most fascinating handmade processes.
Every Oil Gum print is created by hand, meaning no two prints are ever exactly the same. The image slowly emerges through layers of craftsmanship, patience, and a little bit of magic.
Here's what you're seeing in this reel:
✨ 1. The image is exposed onto specially prepared paper using a film positive and UV light, creating the hidden foundation of the print.
✨ 2. The film positive is removed, revealing the exposed image waiting beneath the surface.
✨ 3. The paper is inked by hand. Oil-based ink is carefully rolled across the surface, adhering only where the hardened gum layer accepts it. This is where the image begins to appear.
✨ 4. The washing process begins. The print is gently washed to remove the unhardened gum, revealing beautiful tonal detail and unique textures that make every print one of a kind.
✨ 5. The print is left to dry, completing a handcrafted photographic artwork with incredible depth, richness, and character.
The Oil Gum process is a rare alternative photographic technique that combines photography, printmaking, and traditional craftsmanship. Unlike modern digital printing, every stage is done by hand, making each piece an original work of art rather than a simple reproduction.
This latest portrait celebrates not only its subject but also the timeless beauty of slow, handcrafted photography.
Would you hang an original photographic print like this in your home?
