Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Alternative Processes (Face-to-Face)

ART 3850-01

Course: ART 3850-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Filmmaking, Art, & Design
CRN: 33393

Course Description

This course explores historical and contemporary alternative photographic processes including Cyanotype, Van Dyke Brown, Salt Print, Gum Printing, Carbon Printing, Polaroid Emulsion Lifts, Liquid Emulsion, and additional historical or experimental techniques. Students complete a shared sequence of core process assignments while demonstrations, experimentation, craftsmanship, historical context, and critique form the foundation of the course.

Required Texts

Possible Supplies — Buy As Needed
PICTORICO INKJET OHP TRANSPARENCY FILM
WATERCOLOR PAPER (LET’S TALK BEFORE YOU BUY)
  • Arches Watercolor Block - Hot Press, 140 lb
  • Bergger BE100CU8125 100% Cotton Uncoated Paper
  • Arches Platine
  • Hahnemühle Platinum Rag
  • Rives BFK
  • Stonehenge
  • Brushes- Brush 1” - 2” (foam, hake, watercolor, Gold Nylon etc...) OR Puddle Pusher/Coating Rod
  • 16 oz Hydrogen Peroxide / Tea for toning
  • A portable hard drive and/or thumb drive (use your best judgement)
  • Archival box for image storage and turning in assignments *
  • An artist notebook (fieldnotes)
  • Miscellaneous cost for various supplies Apron / Clothes designated for Alt Process
What to Bring
  • Process Binder
  • Notebook
  • Current Negatives
  • Current Prints
  • Portfolio Box
  • Curiosity

Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes: As a result of successfully completing this course, students will be able to: Produce high contrast and continuous tone negatives and positives Work proficiently in the following alternative photographic processes: Salt Print, Cyanotype, VanDyke Brown, Liquid Emulsion and Create unique, personal work using the above processes Complete a portfolio of work utilizing alternative processes 

Course Requirements

Process Unit 1 • Iron Printing (25 pts)
Processes Explored
  • Traditional Cyanotype
  • Ware Formula Cyanotype
  • Cyanotype Toning
  • Tricolor Cyanotype
  • Van Dyke Brown
  • Cyanotype on Glass (demonstration)
Final Deliverable

Minimum of four finished, matted prints.

Process Unit 2 • Silver Printing (25 pts)
Processes Explored
  • Salt Print
  • Albumen (demonstration)
Final Deliverable

Minimum of four finished, matted prints.

Process Unit 3 • Pigment Printing (25 pts)
Processes Explored
  • Gum Bichromate or Carbon Transfer
Final Deliverable

Minimum of one finished, matted print.

Process Unit 4 • Refined Process Project (25 pts)
Processes Explored
  • Student-selected alternative photographic process
Final Deliverable

Minimum of four finished, matted prints.

Final Project (100 pts)

Students will create a refined and cohesive body of work using the alternative photographic process of their choice. The final project should demonstrate technical proficiency, thoughtful process selection, and a clear artistic direction.

Course Outline

Semester at a Glance
  • Process 1 • Cyanotype
  • Process 2 • Van Dyke Brown
  • Process 3 • Salt Print
  • Process 4 • Gum Bichromate / Carbon Transfer
  • Final Project • Independent Investigation

Designed as a working calendar so the pace may evolve with chemistry, drying time, weather, and studio progress.

WeekDateToday's FocusBring / PrepareDue
1Sept. 2Course Introduction • Chemistry & Safety • Digital NegativesNotebook • BinderSupplies
1Sept. 7Labor Day • No Class
2Sept. 9Digital Negatives • Cyanotype IntroductionPaper • NegativesAttendance Certification
2Sept.14Process Unit 1 • Iron PrintingCoated PaperWork in Progress
3Sept.16Ware Formula • CyanotypeTest Prints
3Sept.21Toning • Tricolor CyanotypeCurrent Prints
4Sept.23Van Dyke Brown • Salt PreviewNegativesLast Day to Add • 100% Refund
4Sept.28Process Unit 1 CritiqueFinished PrintsProcess Unit 1 Due
5Sept.30Process Unit 2 • Silver PrintingPaper • Negatives
5Oct.5Salt Printing StudioPractice Prints
6Oct.7Albumen DemonstrationNotebook
6Oct.12Open StudioWork in Progress
7Oct.14Process Unit 2 CritiqueFinished PrintsProcess Unit 2 Due
7Oct.19Fall Break • No Class
WeekDateToday's FocusBring / PrepareDue
8Oct.21Process Unit 3 • Pigment PrintingNegatives
8Oct.26Printing DayPractice Prints
9Oct.28Open StudioWork in Progress
9Nov.2ConferencesCurrent Prints
10Nov.4Process Unit 3 CritiqueFinished PrintProcess Unit 3 Due
10Nov.9Process Unit 4 • Refined Process ProjectProposal
11Nov.11Portfolio ConferencesDraft Portfolio
11Nov.16Open StudioCamera / Negatives
12Nov.18Portfolio Review • MattingWork Prints
13Nov.23Thanksgiving Break
13Nov.25Thanksgiving Break
14Nov.30Process Unit 4 StudioWork in Progress
14Dec.2Open Studio • ConferencesPortfolio Materials
15Dec.7Final Portfolio PrintingFinal Prints
15Dec.9Matting • Critique PrepFinished WorkProcess Unit 4 Due
FinalsTBDFinal Critique & Portfolio ReviewComplete PortfolioFinal Portfolio Due

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Assignment Due Dates

Everything due for an assignment is listed on each individual assignment sheet along with the date when it is due. All assignments are due at the beginning of class. It is the student’s responsibility to keep track of what is due and when it is due.

Attendance Policy

Attendance & Studio Participation

Students are expected to attend demonstrations, participate in studio work, contribute to critiques, and maintain consistent progress throughout the semester.

Attendance

In the studio class setting, regular attendance is required at all class meetings. Missing more than 4 class sessions will result in a final grade no higher than a C-.

Class starts promptly at 9am, arrival within the first 10 minutes will count as late. Tardiness from class exceeding 10 minutes will count as an absence. 2 lates count as an absence.

The professor is not responsible for the content missed during an absence.

Digital / Open Lab Days

Digital Lab Days are mandatory. You are expected to have material to work on during digital lab days, or else no credit for attendance will be given.

Open Lab Days are for shooting / studio work. If you would like to meet with me during an open lab day, you must notify me by 5pm the Friday before the open lab day.

Course Fees

Program Fee: $57.00 ($19.00 per credit)

The program fee charged for this course is designed to maintain high quality programming, equipment, software, materials, and supplies and services for students in the College of Performing and Visual Arts at Southern Utah University.

Your Program Fee Includes
  • Cost of ink to make inkjet prints in class
  • Software/Hardware usage in the photography digital lab CN 207 B Alt Process kits & toners

Studio Workflow

  • Historical Context
  • Demonstration
  • Practice Prints
  • Studio Work
  • Matting & Presentation
  • Critique
  • If feedback beyond critique is desired, please schedule a meeting.

Students seeking in-depth, individual feedback about their work can set up one-on-one meetings with the professor at their own discretion during the professor’s office hours.

Please use gloves and safety glasses as directed.

Art, and college, by their very nature are meant to challenge ideas. During this course you will be exposed to a wide range of Photographic and Contemporary Art. Triggering and challenging topics of all kinds will possibly be discussed and shown. Topics can and will likely include: Nudity, Political/religious issues, historical combat and medical photography, work about identity, race, gender, sexuality, tragedy, crime etc.

If you have objections to this content please consult your professor or department chair.

Advanced Photography students are encouraged to participate in co-curricular activities and events designed to create and foster personal and professional growth.

  • SUU Photography Club

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.