I spend a lot of time helping people who want to learn carbon and enjoy
exchanging information with people on this list. It surprises me greatly
that more people do not attempt carbon. Although there is no "superior"
printing process, in versatility and range of possibilities carbon is a
fabulous process. It has the capability of presenting images on a wide
range of surfaces, in virtually any color or tone. Platinum is very popular
today but during the period of time when carbon co-existed with other
processes it was almost always considered the aristocrat of printing
processes. When made commercially, carbon prints were more expensive than
those of other processes, about twice as expensive as platinum and three to
five times the cost of silver prints. Consider some of the properties of
carbon.
1. Carbon/carbro images can be placed on a wide range of paper surfaces.
They can have an apparent sharpness greater than silver prints if placed on
smooth surfaces, or be made to look very soft like gum on rough texture
supports.
2. The hand manufacture of carbon tissue makes it possible to produce
images in litrally any color imaginable.
3. The archival qualitiy of carbon/carbro prints is on a par with that of
platinum prints. The image itself is actually more stable.
4. Carbon/carbro prints on smooth surfaces have a discernible relif which
gives them a real dimensional quality.
5. Carbon has a long tonal scale and excellent straight-line
characteristics. This allows the use of fully detailed negatives with long
density ranges, resulting an an even distribution of tones from the highest
lights to the deepest shadows.
6. Finally, the required materials (gelatin, pigment, dichromate) are very
inexpensive.
Still, my reality being what it is, I could never agree with anyone who
says that carbon is "simple." But, simple being what it is, relative and
subjective, perhaps we should simply agree to disagree and move on.
Sandy King
( ><<<<<The Alt Photo community would be far better served by encouraging
>young
>photographers to experiment in the alternative processes rather than by
>scaring them off, methinks.
>
>This is true. Between being told how difficult it was to get a good print
>and how dangerous the chemistry was, I suppressed my desire to do Alt
>Process work for several years.
>
>You know the regular photographic process isn't easy either. I could make
>a silver gelatin print immediately after I was show how to do it BUT it was
>a LONG time before I could make a truly beautiful, luminous print.....and I
>am still learning how to make it better. But you have to start somewhere.
>
>
>Billie