Re: Carbon Printing and Ultravoilet Light

Hi Judy,

       The 'Alternative Photographic Processes' by Arnow has served to
rekindle an interest in carbon printing. I've already found much info on
the web and will buy Sandy King's book on carbon printing.

Thanks!

Rich Lahrson
Berkeley, California
tripspud@transbay.net

Judy Seigel wrote:

> > > 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.
>
> You've got to take this book (and its ilk) with some skepticism... for
> instance Arnow has a chapter titled "Fresson," in which she simply equates
> Fresson with direct carbon, without using the term "direct carbon." Then
> she gives a "formula" for "Fresson" using gelatine, sugar syrup, sugar,
> honey, pigment, etc., in one coat. There are no footnotes for the info,
> but the text mentions that her directions are "derived from the notes of
> distinguished 20th century photographer and teacher Paul Anderson."
>
> Speak of the devil ! In fact, I've just done some tests which I am about
> to scan proving that his Great Gum Pigment Ratio Test of universal acclaim
> is as wrong as I said it was 298 times. Yeah and it took me about 45
> minutes of desperately hard labor to show what as far as I know none of
> the acclaimed authors (hi Pete ! wanna forward this to your good friend?)
> of the latter half of the 20th century could manage...
>
> Anyway, Arnow treats Anderson badly, IMO. She copies his phrase about
> Fresson being "to all intents and purposes the Artigue process" but
> Anderson went on to say you need "Fresson paper," and does not give a
> formula for making your own. Arnow got the sugar and honey mix from
> somewhere unmentioned, and if you didn't check the Anderson book you'd
> blame it on him.
>
> Of course that sugar and honey may make a delicious print, but to call it
> "Fresson" is bad. Meanwhile, if you want to make carbon tissue there are
> more reliable sources -- eg, Sandy King has a book.
>
> Judy
Received on Wed Mar 24 09:08:41 2004