Take your film scanning skills to new heights with this interactive workshop focused on fluid mounting. Perfect for photographers, artists, and archivists, fluid mounting enhances scans with unmatched sharpness, richer tonal depth, and a flawless surface free from dust, scratches, and Newton rings. Whether working with 35mm, medium, or large format negatives, this technique unlocks the full potential of your film, delivering scans ready for exhibition printing or archival preservation.

Through step-by-step guidance, you’ll learn why fluid mounting outperforms traditional dry scanning methods and how to prepare your film, apply mounting fluid, and secure it to the scanner bed. You’ll also delve into advanced scanning software settings to maximize resolution, tonal range, and detail, ensuring your final images meet the highest standards of quality.

This workshop addresses common challenges, offering troubleshooting tips to help you achieve consistent, flawless results. Bring your own negatives to tailor the experience to your work and leave equipped with the expertise and confidence to transform your analog images into stunning digital masterpieces.

All materials, chemistry, and equipment are included in the price of the workshop. During the workshop, you will complete 3 fluid mounts and scans. At the end of the workshop, you will make an 8 x 10 print from one scan created during the workshop. You can use the optional work session on the following afternoon to practice and create additional scans.

What to bring to the workshop:

* Negatives or slides 35mm, 4 x 5 or 8 x 10 (work copies only, no precious originals)
* Any existing scans of the same negatives/slides for comparison
* Thumbdrive or other media for your finished scans

No prior knowledge of fluid mounting is necessary for this workshop. This workshop is best suited to artists 16+ years old; minors must be accompanied by an adult. 

Jesse Ryan Brown is an Assistant Professor of Photography at Delta State University in Mississippi. He has a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Maine College of Art and Design and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Art Institute of Atlanta. His artistic practice delves into contemporary masculinity, examining psychological experiences and the intricacies of male identity. Brown's work has garnered significant acclaim, with exhibitions at prestigious venues such as the Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson, Mississippi, and the Institute of Contemporary Art in Portland, Maine.

Image: Jesse Brown