Re: 4-color carbon question

David E. Le Vine - TreeO (david@treeo.com)
Sat, 9 Dec 1995 20:18:19 -0500

>>>True carbon is not commercially feasible.
>>>
>>
>>I hope that's not true. We have a major investment in time and equipment.
>
>In a previous post we said:
>
>>>Well, true carbon is certainly not easier than EverColor's Agfa Proofing
>>
>>True carbon is not commercially feasible.
>>
>>>system and all the Scitex equipment designed for offset reproduction. I'm
>>>sure EverColor doesn't need cold rooms with humidity control, either.
>
>The "true" carbon, if there is such a term applied to color photography, in
>my book(s) refers to the traditional technique described in _History and
>Practice of Carbon Processes_ (1982), long out of print but available in
>many libraries. It refers to a three-color dichromated system somewhat
>popular ca. 1900-1938, that requires, besides manufacturing the materials,
>and color separation on continuous tone negatives (1) Sensitizing and
>Drying the pigmented papers (2) Exposing them (3) Transferring them to
>temporary plastic supports (4) Developing in hot water (5) Drying them (5)
>Transferring them one at a time (and drying) to a STS, i.e., Soluble
>Temporary Support (paper coated with soft gelatin) (6) Registring
>carefully, usually with fingers in icy cold water with floating ice cubes
>(to prevent heat from the fingers from cementing the layers too quickly)
>all three layers (complete drying between each step) and finally
>transferring this STS to a permanent high quality support to find out,
>usually, that the cyan printer was 10% overexposed and the magenta lacked
>contrast:-(

Why is only the "double transfer" method considered "true"?

>
>The newer approaches typically use pre-sensitized pigmented papers on
>*stable* polyester supports with automatic registration and direct
>development, one on top of another.

Our "tissue" is not pre-sensitized. We hand expose and pin register each
color and dry between each transfer.

>
>There are only a fraction of the steps and variables involved in these new
>techniques and they are overall a hundred times easier than the traditional
>method. These processes should be feasible especially if they can offer the
>appeal of a true *paper* surface.
>

Hopefully next.

>The problem here is that Wilhelm in his recent book, indicated that $1.99
>prints on the right RC paper (of all things!) can last over 100 years while
>$199 prints can last 300 years and many people are not willing to pay the
>difference to see their wedding pictures or whatever last that long;-)

The market for Rolls Royce is smaller than for the Chevy. They are both
cars that work, and use the same gas. There is a market for quality and
uniqueness. Is it big enough to sustain a business? I guess only time
will tell.

>
>If these newer carbon processes had appeared in the 70s they would have
>created a multi-million dollar business in a hurry. Now, from what I hear,
>they are struggling. I do hope their niche market allows them to survive.

Me too.

>
>Luis Nadeau
>awef6t@mi.net
>nadeaul@nbnet.nb.ca
>http://www.primenet.com/~dbarto/lnadeau.html#A0

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