Our Processes

Expertise

Which alternative photographic processes does Maison Picturale practise?

Maison Picturale hand-prints nine alternative photographic processes in its Paris studio at 1 Passage Dagorno (Paris 20e): cyanotype, gum bichromate (Aquaprint), sanguine, bromoil, carbon transfer, gumoil, resinotype (Velours), platinum-palladium and Van Dyke Brown. Each process has its own visual signature — from the Prussian blue of cyanotype to the museum-grade density of carbon — and every print is made on 100% cotton watercolour paper, 640 gsm, free of optical brighteners, as a signed and numbered limited edition.

Are Maison Picturale's processes toxic?

No. Every process at Maison Picturale is printed with the non-toxic reformulated chemistry of its sister brand Vision Picturale: no potassium dichromate (a CMR carcinogen), no petroleum solvents and no CMR fumes. The studio runs without a hazardous-fume extractor and residual chemistry is compatible with domestic disposal. This reformulation preserves the authentic visual signature of each historical process while removing the hazardous substances from the original recipes.

How do I commission a custom print in the process of my choice?

The client sends a high-resolution file (TIFF or JPEG, 300 dpi minimum) through the contact form, specifying the desired process, format and tone. Master printers Tristan Sidem and Raphaël Lebas de Lacour validate the file, recommend the process and format best suited to the subject, prepare the calibrated digital negative, then produce the final print. Turnaround is four to eight weeks depending on the process and format, from Coquille (44 × 56 cm) to the monumental Univers (100 × 140 cm).

How long do the prints last — are they archival?

Yes. The processes practised at Maison Picturale are among the most stable in photography: platinum-palladium is estimated at several millennia, carbon and cyanotype at over a century away from direct light — Anna Atkins' 1843 cyanotype plates are still legible in the Victoria & Albert Museum's collections. Each print ships with a certificate of authenticity detailing the recommended conservation conditions.

What is the difference between commissioning a print and doing it yourself with a Vision Picturale kit?

Maison Picturale and Vision Picturale cover two complementary intents. At Maison Picturale, you commission a fine-art print hand-made by the master printers, as a signed and numbered limited edition with a certificate of authenticity — a collectible object. With Vision Picturale kits, you practise the process yourself using the same non-toxic reformulated chemistry. To go further, NOEME Picturale Academy offers online courses and the Paris studio runs in-person workshops.