Re: Charcoal Prints? Thanks to your spouse.

Jim,

I didn't realize that you were talking about contemporary prints.

Barium of course refers to baryta, or barium sulfate, it was used to make
extremely smooth white coating as an underlayment to the gelatin sizing or
coating. As for silver that is a mystery as silver toned carbon prints are
usually quite brown.

Back in the 70's when I was the Director of the CameraVision Gallery we
showed some dusting on prints that were very charcoal-like and lovely. The
person who made them was very secretive about the process but I recall
making a comment that they looked like dusting on prints and the person
admitted that is what they were. I cannot recall any names 30 years later.
I used to have senior moments but they are turning into weeks and months now.

I think the dusting on process is one of the under appreciated processes of
modern alt printing.

There were many folks in the past who came up with a direct carbon process
that claimed it was the same as the Fresson process. Somehow some folks
feel that attaching the name Fresson adds some value to what they are doing.

--Dick

--Dick

  At 07:59 AM 3/7/2004, you wrote:
>John: Thank you for your response. John Stewart ***DID*** mention working
>with the Fresson family. In addition, I used the magic of Google to find
>the following website
>www.atelier-fresson.com .
>
>It has an incredibly incomplete description of a direct charcoal process
>using different layers of charcoal density. I will contact you off list for
>more info. Thanks. Jim
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <Grafist@aol.com>
>To: <alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca>
>Sent: Sunday, March 07, 2004 9:37 AM
>Subject: Re: Charcoal Prints?Thanks to your spouse.
>
>
> > In a message dated 07/03/04 03:44:06 GMT Standard Time, jstrain@iquest.net
> > writes:
> >
> > > I went to a gallery today in Chicago (not Catherine Edelman's gallery
>where
> > > there are some photogravures) and saw some "charcoal" prints. They were
> > > somehow related in the writings sitting around to Fressons. Since my
> > spouse
> > > liked them, I thought I should find out the process. Anyone have any
> > > exprience or know what it is? Is it carbon printing? TIA. Jim
> > .............................................................
> > Hi Jim and all,
> > >I went to a gallery today in Chicago and saw some "charcoal" prints....
> >
> > I am in London, England so please give us the name of the gallery
>so I
> > could contact them for more detail ...some ''charcoal'' prints. Altho
>this
> > is somewhat vague the photographer who refers to his work in this way is
>John
> > Stuart. Was this in the literature in connection with Fresson? Stuart
>does
> > have his work printed by the Fressons.
> >
> > >Since my spouse liked them, I thought I should find out the process.
> >
> > I think your spouse has very good taste and a perceptive eye and it is
> > understanding that you should try to get more info. on the process.
> >
> > >Anyone have any exprience or know what it is? Is it carbon printing?
>TIA.
> > Jim
> >
> > Please excuse what might appear to be a little dogmatic but I have
> > been researching this ''charcoal'' process for more than twelve years and
>am now
> > in a position, after doing extensive tests with Direct Carbon, to indulge
>in
> > some shameless self promotion as seems to be accepted here on this list,
>of
> > late.
> >
> > >is it carbon printing?
> >
> > No! It is not Carbon Transfer as has widely been described and promoted,
> > recently on this list. Carbon Transfer paper cannot be used to make
>"charcoal"
> > prints.
> >
> > ''Charcoal'' is Direct Carbon. I have renamed my system I .C. I.
> > (Interface Carbon Imbibition) as this briefly, theoretically, decribes the
>process
> > which I have developed based on some obscure and little known info.
>gathered
> > over the years. However, my own research deviated considerably from that
>which I
> > found published and includes truly inovative photographic technology. The
> > coated paper which I am making gives a range of tones from very deep
>carbon black
> > to pure white and is processed (developed) in exactly the way as descibed
>in
> > the often published ''Fresson'' system shortly, hopefully, to be
>mentioned,
> > yet again, in Post Factory # 9 magazine edited by Judy Seigel of this
>list.
> > I am sorry that I cannot be more explicit, here. But if you
>,
> > or anyone, would care to contact me OFF LIST maybe we can do some
>business.
> > Happy hunting. John Grocott- Photographist
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
Received on Sun Mar 7 11:41:07 2004