limited edition printing process

The Creation of Xtina Parks’ Platinum Palladium Exhibition Prints  

The process of creating Xtina Parks’ latest exhibition prints is a meticulous fusion of cutting-edge digital photography and masterful analog printmaking, resulting in stunning platinum palladium prints that preserve the depth, detail, and artistic integrity of her vision.  

Digital Capture with Nikon Cameras and Lenses  

Each photograph in this series was originally captured using state-of-the-art Nikon digital cameras paired with the highest-quality Nikon lenses. This combination ensured unparalleled sharpness, rich tonal range, and exceptional dynamic depth. Shooting in full-frame RAW format, every image retained intricate details from Africa’s landscapes, wildlife, and people—an essential foundation for the printmaking process.  

Creating the Full-Frame PiezoDN Negative 

Once the digital files were meticulously processed and fine-tuned for tonal accuracy, they were converted into high-resolution digital negatives using the PiezoDN system. The PiezoDN process allows for an extremely smooth tonal transition and perfect contrast balance, essential for platinum palladium printing. A full-frame PiezoDN negative was printed onto specialized film, ensuring that the final darkroom prints would capture the deepest blacks and the most delicate highlights.  

The Darkroom Printing Process at Cone Editions

The negatives were then used in the platinum palladium printing process at the renowned Cone Editions Press, a studio recognized for its mastery in alternative photographic printing. The prints were meticulously handcrafted using a platinum palladium solution, a technique that produces a superior tonal range, permanence, and depth unmatched by other photographic printing methods.  

Edition of 10 on Revere Platinum Paper

Each print in the series was carefully printed on Revere Platinum Paper, a fine art paper specially formulated for platinum palladium printing. This paper's natural warmth and smooth surface allow for exceptional absorption of the platinum metals, ensuring that the final images achieve a rich, deep, and subtly luminous quality. Each photograph is printed in a limited edition of 10, making them rare collector’s pieces.  

Hand-Brushed Margins for a Unique Finish

To honor the tradition of handcrafted fine art photography, the original brush margins of the platinum palladium solution were preserved, creating a raw and expressive frame around each image. These brushstrokes serve as a testament to the artisanal process behind every print, highlighting the fusion of Xtina Parks’ contemporary photography with one of the most revered historical printing methods.  

The final platinum palladium prints embody the spirit of fine art craftsmanship while showcasing the remarkable detail and storytelling depth of Xtina Parks’ photography, bringing her vision to life in a way that is both timeless and deeply evocative.