Re: 4-color carbon question

David E. Le Vine - TreeO (david@treeo.com)
Sat, 9 Dec 1995 02:12:16 -0500

>> I am working in 4-color carbon and am having trouble with the black (final
>> transfer of a "single transfer" process) adhering to the magenta,
>> particularly in the maximum density areas. It starts to wash off in clumps
>> about half way through the washout. I can stop it by cutting the wash
>> short. Is the gelatin of the black swelling too much, or is the Dmax
>> magenta inhibiting adhesion?
>>
>You are going to have to be a lot more specific with this question.
>What materials are you using? Describe general working procedures.
>As a general rule it is true that the very dense areas of a carbon
>or carbro image have a greater tendency to frill than mid-tones
>and highlights, but from your description I am not sure if this
>is the problem, or if perhaps something else if going on.
>

OK Sandy,

Material used: Polaroid material (manufactured for Archival Color, Charlie
Berger's original company).

The material was originally designed to print halftone separations. They
were forced to use screens in excess of 500 line to eliminate a moire type
effect which happened due to the relief.

We have successfully made prints from contone separations. I use a
Crosfield 645IS to scan and produce separations.

>>Also, do the people on this list think there is a market for 4-color
>> continuous-tone carbon prints?
>>
> Interesting question. Perhaps Bill Nordstrom of EverColor Prints or
>Charles Berger (UltraStable materials) might offer some insight. Luis
>Nadeau's thoughts on this matter would also be very interesting.
>

Evercolor uses the Agfa Proofing system with two colors modified for
permanence. They use an excellent stochastic screen. The prints are
excellent, but have strange blacks (the reflectance). They are by no means
carbon or Carbro II (as he used to call it when he used Charlie's
UltraStable, which he abandoned for the Agfa process).

We are doing true continuous tone carbon prints. Do you think anyone cares?

David E. Le Vine
david@TreeO.com
http://www.TreeO.com