Does anybody know.......

G

gdoggydogdog

Suspended / Banned
Messages
3
Name
Gavin
Hello

I want to put a photograph in an envelope and when the person opens it and pulls out the photograph, it quickly disappears.

Is this possible and if so, how?
 
Actually my description is a bit lame. I'll have another go. Is there a way that you can develop a photograph so that when it gets exposed to sunlight it disappears.

The photograph would be put into an envelope in the dark room so that it would not be exposed to sunlight until it is opened later on.

Does that make sense?
 
It's a long time since I was in a darkroom, but isn't this what happens if you don't fix the photo?

If not, maybe ask for it to be moved to the film section.
 
gdoggydogdog said:
Actually my description is a bit lame. I'll have another go. Is there a way that you can develop a photograph so that when it gets exposed to sunlight it disappears.

The photograph would be put into an envelope in the dark room so that it would not be exposed to sunlight until it is opened later on.

Does that make sense?
Click to expand...

Ah now I understand, I suspect this would be better if the film guys saw it as its likely going to be down there kind of ally to so shall ask a mod if the can boot it over to there corner of the forum hopefully get you the answers you need :D
 
In the darkroom just dont put the print thought the fixer,you then have to put the print into an lightproof bag to send it,even then i dont know if it would last without fixer before the person open it,and it would also depend in which light it was open in.
Or you could give just a quick fix,but then it wouldn't fade as they open it,it would after sometime with exposure to light :)
 
Next time I should probably word my question better and post it in the right section but thanks for the help.
 
Been a long time since I played in the darkroom but IIRC, once the print's dried, it won't simply go black when exposed to light. ISTR something about solarisation where you exposed the print during development to get a weird effect. If you've got access to a darkroom, have a play!
 
I suggest including a little note saying "This image will self destruct in 5... 4...3... 2..."
 
ooooh....interesting idea.

My first thought is that if the photo was developed and then placed in stop bath then thoroughly washed and dried all under a safelight. Then it should hold the image without any fading or fogging. As soon as it is exposed to natural light it would then darken pretty quickly, go past the solarisation phase and end up pure black.

The photo would have to be stored inside light proof material like the black plastic material inside boxes of photo paper. An ordinary envelope would leak light. So if you wanted to put it in an envelope it would need an inner sleeve of light proof material.

I'll have a little play in the darkroom over the weekend to confirm it and let you know.
 
You've got me curious to this now, shall be keeping a close eye to see what happens:D
 
Ignore what I said above.

Thinking about it, without the photo being placed back in dveloping chemicals, the paper wouldn't go black quickly, it would just behave as any photo sensitive paper that is fogged accidentally....and just go a kind of light brown/purple colour as exposure to light continues. But this probably wouldn't be enough to remove the photo as desired.

I'm really intrigued by this now and will definitely have a play to see what can be achieved.
 
This happens when you use some cheap 3rd party inks in your printer
 
I did think about some of the older photographic processes, but gave them up as not being able to produce a rapid disappearance on exposure to light. The obvious way to achieve it would be to make sure that some developing agent were held in the paper, but this breaks down (rather faster than a print made in this manner would) because it would be difficult to prevent premature development or the developer being exhausted and in any case to my mind "disappear" implies faded to white not turned black.

There might be more mileage in having something akin to a Polaroid pack with mini rollers and developing agent that could begin acting - or even a bleach as used in reversal processes - when the photo was withdrawn. But I'd hesitate to send such a chemical laden piece of paper through the post to be handled. That said, Polaroid managed it...
 
It's an interesting idea, but ultimately hassle. Also, imagine if they open the envelope, pull the photo out but they look away briefly/distracted by something, and then they look down at a blank photo! :(
 
Dino f said:
This happens when you use some cheap 3rd party inks in your printer
Click to expand...

I find that when I use the manufacturers ink it's my money that disappears....quickly.
 
Oh wow, would this actually be possible?

Surely if it was, someone would have snatched the idea by now to sell as a valentines gift, an inventive way to propose or something wacky. If not, we need to get together and make that so! :lol: I only want 50% of profits ;)

Interesting though!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top