Re: Carbon Printing and Ultravoilet Light

Rich,

You are in luck. Bostick and Sullivan (Santa Fe) are making carbon tissue.
 Sandy King on this list can probably answer all your questions.

Mark Nelson
In a message dated 3/22/04 6:37:48 PM, tripspud@transbay.net writes:

> Hi!
>
>      Back in the very late '70, I made an attempt that failed at Carbro
> printing.
> I was able to make one carbon print however.  I was forced to move and
> the darkroom didn't come with me.  Now, I would like to try again, but just
> the b&w carbon printing.  I was impressed by the three dimensional look
> that is unique to this process and others related to it.
>
>        Nowadays, the carbon tissue is not available and must be hand made.
> In a book I have, 'Alternative Photographic Processes' by Jan Arnow, she
> describes the method of the process and how to make the tissue.  This is
> not an easy process.
>
>        I'm using 5x7 neagatives for direct contact printing.
>
>       I've aquired and am rebuilding a Kodak D2 8x10 contact printer
> from the '30.   The wiring is still good and it takes 4 standard light
> bulbs.
> But for carbon printing and many other alternative processes, more
> ultraviolet
> light is needed to keep exposure times short.  Carbon arc or mercury vapor
> lamps are recommended.  Here's an eBay search page for 'mercury vapor':
>
> http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?query=mercury+vapor&
> sosortproperty=1&ht=1&from=R10&BasicSearch=++
>
>       As you can see there are quite a number of mercury vapor lamps
> available.
> Which is best?
> Do they need a transformer?
>
>       Also, another possibility, is to not use the wiring in the old Kodak
> D2
> contact printer.
> With the front door removed, it's broken anyway, there's a 12x12x4 inch
> opening,
> wide
> and big enough for possibly inserting a bank of tubes.
>
>       Previously, I had used a dedicated light box from Aristo that was
> 11x14
> with a bank
> of small tubes and a timer.  However, the old Kodak D2 contact printer has
> one
> big advantage
> over the Aristo box.  The Kodak printer is wood, of course, but it has
> grooves
> in the sides to
> place extra glass.  It's my understanding, that before enlarging became
> possible, these 'shelves'
> could be used to place tissue cut-outs to simulate 'dodging', something
> impossible with the
> Aristo box.   Also, it would be possible to save the tisssue(s) when making
> reprints.  I plan
> to store the tissue with the negative.
>
>        This is all analog.   I've just joined the list.  If anyone is active
> in
> carbon printing,  your
> replies will be appreciated!
>
> TIA,
>
> Rich Lahrson
> Berkeley, California
> tripspud@transbay.net
>
>

Mark Nelson
Never try to teach a pig to sing.
It wastes your time and annoys the pig—anonymous
Received on Mon Mar 22 19:15:05 2004