Difficult altprocess ?

pmurf@concentric.net
2/6/1998 22:53

No mysteries in alt-photo ? try Daguerreotypes.

I would like to help deflate this mystique that
Carbon printing is only for "Official" printmakers
and I wish to encourage all mortal beings to
try their hand at this beautiful and sublime
medium.
I must say that it is much more difficult to
describe with words how to make a Carbon Print than it is
to perform. ( and I applaud those who have
succeeded in doing so .) With a little patience, one will
quickly realize what a straightforward and
logical procedure it really is. One nicety about
making Carbons is that there are many stages toward
the final print where the work can be halted
and resumed at a later time; this is great
for those of us with time constraints while working.
A videotape of Carbon "tissue" making and
printing procedure (even a non-professional tape )
would be a huge help to anyone taking up
this practice. It really must be SEEN. Tissue
making for example; it isn't tissue, it's
nothing like "tissue". It IS a gelatin matrix ,
and in Woodburytype it's actually fairly thick !

If anyone has been discouraged from giving
Carbon Printing a try because of the mystique
of difficulties, I say just go for it. Use
the experience of kind members from this list
willing to help you through your initial
difficulties. Perhaps someone will make
a video to share with the group and encourage
others in this incredibly rich medium.

all the best,

Phillip Murphy