Platinum/palladium printing dates back to the 1880s, and was used for the finest exhibition prints until the cost of platinum rocketed in the early 20th centuary. Today, although still expensive, it is used by its exponents to produce images that can have a wider tonal range, with superbly detailed highlights, than standard silver prints. Platinum prints are also long-lived, with an estimated lifespan of more than 1,000 years.

Platinum printing is a 'contact' process where the print can only be the same size as the negative, one of the reasons why David uses a large format camera. The platinum emulsion is mixed then coated onto high quality cotton-rag paper. The negative is then sandwiched between this coated paper and a sheet of glass, before being exposed to ultra-violet light in order to make the print.