I started in 1985 with 3-color-carbro (with the HANFSTAENGL-tissues) and gave it
up soon because of adhesion problems and the lack of suitable bromide paper. I
switched to 3-color-carbon transfer, and , after an excellent workshop at Luis
Nadeau's atelier, I could do the process, but never tried to offer it
commercially, because it simply took to much time and trouble to make one print.
A few years later, I came into closer contact to Hanfstaengl and we tried to
improve the color process regarding processing time and gradation of tissues.
(We never considered a black printer necessary, because we wanted to keep it a
continuous tone process, which, like all other *photographic* processes, would
reach the necessary Dmax with three layers only and we wanted to avoid even
more problems caused by a fourth layer.)
The result were tissues with a polyester layer to be used with an automatic
registering system, single transfer technique with intermediate drying after
each development, thus reducing processing time from approx. nine hours to only
one (with polyester transfer sheets) or a little more (with baryta coated
conventional transfer paper). The process never became marketed, because first
ARGENTA, our supplier for a precoated white polyester, and then HANFSTAENGL
themselves went out of business. I must confess, that until to the end, the
process remained somewhat tedious, requiring a lot of skill, climate control and
patience... Charles Berger's process certainly is much more practical and, as
proved by a friend of mine at Paris (professional printer), it can also be done
on fibre base papers.
I have drawn the following conclusions from my experiences:
- Although many people (artists, ambitious photographers...) are worried about
the permanence of chromogenic prints, the famous artists sell their prints
anyway and the less known do not have the money to pay for carbon prints (what
system ever). Wedding photography is rather expensive allready and it is rather
doubtfull, wether customers would pay considerably more for a permanent print.
- Color systems with dichromated colloids and continuous tone probably will
always be much more difficult to control than systems using diazo sensitisation
with halftone and just a yes/no information.
- As the permanence of chromogenic papers is going to be improved constantly and
the first museums and archives are building cold storage rooms, plus the
upcoming (strange and probably wrong) belief, that digitally stored images may
last forever, it may become even harder to convince people about the necessity
of expensive processes giving permanent prints.
- Although the esthetic qualities of a carbon transfer print to me and most of
the contributors to this mailing list are out of any question, this does not at
all mean, that these qualities would be recognized or even wanted by a
commercial market that would yield a turnover big enough for at least a few
people's yearly income. How much money and efforts would be needed to create
this consciousness?
So for the time beeing I have abandoned commercial efforts in full color carbon
printing. I cannot afford to spend more time and money into this subject and do
not see a possibility to make a living out of it. I am working as a photography
teacher and do a small mail order business (FINE PRINT STUDIOS) for alternative
printing materials here in Germany, give some workshops and do a little platinum
and (monochrome) carbon printing for others. But if I should win a million bucks
tomorrow, I certainly would start this beautiful work again the same day...
Since 1992, the time when HANFSTAENGL closed, I store their remaining stock of
bw-tissues (4 colors still available) and color materials (y, m, c) in my deep
freezers. As it does not make much sense to keep it sleeping there and although
HANFSTAENGL had put the prices rather high at the end, I offer it to anybody
wanting to continue the research on full color carbon transfer printing. He/she
could count on my support and a reasonable discount... I hope this is not
understood as commercial advertizing.
I am watching this mailing list for a short time only and this is my first
contribution. I was happy to see the carbon process beeing discussed and look
forward to future discussions.
Klaus Pollmeier
100561.2417@compuserve.com