RESINOTYPE — CHARCOAL EFFECT WITH VELVETY HIGHLIGHTS
About the process
The resinotype offers a unique silky texture that absorbs pigment in a way that creates blacks of exceptional depth. Rosin (pine resin) is at the heart of the process, giving the print its characteristic velvety appearance. Ideal for portraits and landscapes requiring an intimate atmosphere.
History
The resinotype is an alternative photographic process invented in the 19th century, belonging to the family of dusting-on processes. Its principle relies on the property of certain resins — particularly rosin, derived from pine resin — to become tacky when exposed to ultraviolet light.
The paper is coated with a layer of gelatin mixed with rosin, then sensitised. After exposure under a negative, the exposed areas harden while the unexposed areas remain tacky. A powdered pigment — carbon black, charcoal, natural earths, or ash — is then dusted on, adhering only to the tacky areas and revealing the image.
The ash resinotype is a remarkable variant where burnt matter (wood, plant, or paper ash) is used as the pigment. This technique creates an organic link between the photographic subject and the very material of the print — particularly poignant for documenting post-wildfire landscapes, as in Maxime Riché's Paradise series.
The process has been rediscovered and reformulated by contemporary artists for its ability to produce blacks of unrivalled depth and softness, with a characteristic velvety appearance that earns it the name "Velvet print" at Maison Picturale.
At Maison Picturale
Every resinotype made by Maison Picturale is a unique piece, produced entirely by hand in our Parisian workshop.
The paper used is a 100% cotton satin watercolour stock at 640 g/m², chosen for its ability to retain the gelatin-rosin layer deep within its fibres. The pigment — carbon black for classic Velvet prints, or ash for ash resinotypes — is hand-dusted, giving every piece unique subtle variations.
Our formats range from Coquille (44 × 56 cm) to the monumental Univers (100 × 140 cm). The chemistry used is entirely reformulated by Picturale to be non-toxic and workshop-safe without specialised equipment.
You can send us your own image — photograph, illustration, or drawing — and we will transpose it into a resinotype to your specifications. The result is a work at the crossroads of photography and charcoal drawing.
Example results
24 results for this process
View gallery →Sizes & Pricing
Coquille
44 × 56 cm
Jésus
56 × 76 cm
Grand Aigle
76 × 112 cm
Univers
100 × 140 cm
Practise at home
Make your own Velvet (Resinotype) prints at home
Kit résinotype complet : résine, pigments et gélatine pour des noirs veloutés.
Kit Résinotype
Reproducibility
Calibrate your Velvet (Resinotype)
HD test chart → scan → .acv curve in 3 steps. Calibration Flow generates the exact correction for your process.
Calibrate this processFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between a resinotype and a Velvet print?
They are the same process. "Velvet" is the name we give to the resinotype at Maison Picturale, referring to the characteristic velvety texture of the print. The international technical term is "resinotype".
What is an ash resinotype?
It is a resinotype variant where ash (from wood, plants, or burnt paper) replaces the traditional carbon black pigment. This technique creates a unique material link between the subject and the print — the ash becomes the very substance of the image.
Is the resinotype process toxic?
No. At Picturale, we use rosin (natural pine resin), food-grade gelatin, and mineral pigments. No dangerous chemicals are required. The process is suitable for a home studio.
How long does a resinotype print last?
The rosin and mineral pigments used are extremely stable. Kept away from direct light, a resinotype can last for centuries, comparable to the finest alternative photographic prints.
Can I order a resinotype with my own image?
Absolutely. Send us your high-resolution file through our contact form. We will prepare a calibrated digital negative and produce your resinotype print in your chosen format.
How are Maxime Riché's ash resinotypes made?
For the Paradise series, the ash comes from burnt plant matter, evoking post-wildfire Californian landscapes. This ash is sieved then dusted onto sensitised gelatin, creating an image where the material of disaster becomes the substance of the artwork.
Learn this process
Resinotype course — master Velvet prints and ash resinotypesRESINOTYPE — CHARCOAL EFFECT WITH VELVETY HIGHLIGHTS
About the process
The resinotype (resinotypy, or Velvet print) is related to the oil process: the image is revealed by dusting pigment — carbon black, ash or pine resin — onto a sensitised gelatin layer that has been more or less modified by the action of light. The ash resinotype is a variant where burnt matter is incorporated directly into the print.
The resinotype offers a unique silky texture that absorbs pigment in a way that creates blacks of exceptional depth. Rosin (pine resin) is at the heart of the process, giving the print its characteristic velvety appearance. Ideal for portraits and landscapes requiring an intimate atmosphere.
Recommended files: High-definition TIFF or JPEG (300 dpi). We create the digital negative.
Example results
24 results made with this process
View full gallery →Need advice?
Our team can help you choose the right paper, format and finish for your project.
History
The resinotype is an alternative photographic process invented in the 19th century, belonging to the family of dusting-on processes. Its principle relies on the property of certain resins — particularly rosin, derived from pine resin — to become tacky when exposed to ultraviolet light.
The paper is coated with a layer of gelatin mixed with rosin, then sensitised. After exposure under a negative, the exposed areas harden while the unexposed areas remain tacky. A powdered pigment — carbon black, charcoal, natural earths, or ash — is then dusted on, adhering only to the tacky areas and revealing the image.
The ash resinotype is a remarkable variant where burnt matter (wood, plant, or paper ash) is used as the pigment. This technique creates an organic link between the photographic subject and the very material of the print — particularly poignant for documenting post-wildfire landscapes, as in Maxime Riché's Paradise series.
The process has been rediscovered and reformulated by contemporary artists for its ability to produce blacks of unrivalled depth and softness, with a characteristic velvety appearance that earns it the name "Velvet print" at Maison Picturale.
At Maison Picturale
Every resinotype made by Maison Picturale is a unique piece, produced entirely by hand in our Parisian workshop.
The paper used is a 100% cotton satin watercolour stock at 640 g/m², chosen for its ability to retain the gelatin-rosin layer deep within its fibres. The pigment — carbon black for classic Velvet prints, or ash for ash resinotypes — is hand-dusted, giving every piece unique subtle variations.
Our formats range from Coquille (44 × 56 cm) to the monumental Univers (100 × 140 cm). The chemistry used is entirely reformulated by Picturale to be non-toxic and workshop-safe without specialised equipment.
You can send us your own image — photograph, illustration, or drawing — and we will transpose it into a resinotype to your specifications. The result is a work at the crossroads of photography and charcoal drawing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a resinotype and a Velvet print?
They are the same process. "Velvet" is the name we give to the resinotype at Maison Picturale, referring to the characteristic velvety texture of the print. The international technical term is "resinotype".
What is an ash resinotype?
It is a resinotype variant where ash (from wood, plants, or burnt paper) replaces the traditional carbon black pigment. This technique creates a unique material link between the subject and the print — the ash becomes the very substance of the image.
Is the resinotype process toxic?
No. At Picturale, we use rosin (natural pine resin), food-grade gelatin, and mineral pigments. No dangerous chemicals are required. The process is suitable for a home studio.
How long does a resinotype print last?
The rosin and mineral pigments used are extremely stable. Kept away from direct light, a resinotype can last for centuries, comparable to the finest alternative photographic prints.
Can I order a resinotype with my own image?
Absolutely. Send us your high-resolution file through our contact form. We will prepare a calibrated digital negative and produce your resinotype print in your chosen format.
How are Maxime Riché's ash resinotypes made?
For the Paradise series, the ash comes from burnt plant matter, evoking post-wildfire Californian landscapes. This ash is sieved then dusted onto sensitised gelatin, creating an image where the material of disaster becomes the substance of the artwork.
Learn this process
Resinotype course — master Velvet prints and ash resinotypesPractise at home
Make your own Velvet (Resinotype) prints at home
Kit résinotype complet : résine, pigments et gélatine pour des noirs veloutés.
Discover the Kit RésinotypeReproducibility
Calibrate your Velvet (Resinotype)
HD test chart → scan → .acv curve in 3 steps. Calibration Flow generates the exact correction for your process.
Calibrate this processVelvet (Resinotype)
From €200