Color Pigment Prints

[sanking]

You still haven't stated why you don't like cibachromes and rated them as 6th of 6 choices.

Are there any available samples of carbon color prints generally available anywhere for viewing? It sounds like they're really worth seeing.

I don't like Ciba/Ilfochromes because them remind me of shinny glossy laminated plastic place mats.

You can find some information on color carbon printing at Ataraxia Studios, http://www.atxstudio.com/pigment_prints.html

In addition to Ataraxia there is at least one other place in the US where color carbons are made commercially, and that is at Art and Soul Studio in Seattle, operated by Tod Gangler. I have seen some of the work he did with Ultrastable, by double transfer on a art paper, and it is very beautiful. Quite unlike many Ultrastable prints that are on white Mylar.

I made quite a number of color carbons and carbros over a 5-10 years period in the 80s but have not made any color prints since about 1994 and am currently more interested in monochrome. However, it is such a fascinating process I am tempted to try it again with computer generated separations, which would greatly simplify color balance.

There would not be much point in posting a computer image of a color carbon print because it would not show the wonderful dimensional quality of the surface, which is truly exquisite in color where the build-up of several layers of pigments gives an effect similar to that hills and valleys between the shadows and highlights. Moonochrome carbon prints can also show the dimension effect but only if th final image is on a relatively smooth surface.
My monochrome carbon prints on fine art papers are very low sheen and generally show very little relief.



Sandy

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

When in New York, stop in at the John Stevenson Gallery, and you can see various types of carbon prints, color and monochrome, Fresson prints, as well as prints that use a variety of alternative and historical processes.

Dead Link Removed

 

[Thomassauerwein]

I have never considered 3 or 4 color carbon printing. and I'm sure todays tecknology may make it easier. I'd really like to know more! BTW my carbro prints (mono) have wonderful releifs to them on a fairly smooth fine art surface. Well sized paper seems to hold the image on the surface better. Please anything you run across, would throw it out here for us to see. Thanks.

 

[Bob Carnie]

Sandy

A very good friend of mine, John Bladen Bentley , is doing colour carban prints here in Toronto . These prints are on rag paper and are beautiful. He has had no end of problems getting supplys and support for his work . I think there may be samples of his work at Stevensons gallery in NY.
I consider these prints to be some of the finest examples of colour photography on paper that I have seen.

 

[sanking]

Sandy

A very good friend of mine, John Bladen Bentley , is doing colour carban prints here in Toronto . These prints are on rag paper and are beautiful. He has had no end of problems getting supplys and support for his work . I think there may be samples of his work at Stevensons gallery in NY.
I consider these prints to be some of the finest examples of colour photography on paper that I have seen.

I would love to see this work. If there are samples at the Stevenson Gallery in New York I would encourage everyone who can to have a look at them. Well done color carbons are truly exquisite and in the realm of the hand-crafted image they have to rank at the very top in both time and skill.

Do you know if John makes his own color tissue or does he still have some of the Ultrstable or Hanfstaengle stock.


Sandy

 

[Joe Symchyshyn]

I used to work for Bob in Toronto years ago when John Bentley was just starting to do carbon prints. They really were something else...

The relief effect does it... Like looking at the emulsion side of transparency film... The highs and lows cut the image and really give it some texture and three dimensionality. Unlike any other prints I've seen before.

Bob, does John still live in Mexico, or is he back in Toronto permanently?

joe

 

[Jorge]

I used to work for Bob in Toronto years ago when John Bentley was just starting to do carbon prints. They really were something else...

The relief effect does it... Like looking at the emulsion side of transparency film... The highs and lows cut the image and really give it some texture and three dimensionality. Unlike any other prints I've seen before.

Bob, does John still live in Mexico, or is he back in Toronto permanently?

joe

If he lives in Mexico tell me where, I would love to visit him and see his prints...

 

[Thomassauerwein]

Joe that is definatelly my favorite part of the carbon print, It's kind of a reverse dimension to the print. Visually the highlights give the illusion of heigth but at the right angle the blacks and dark greys are actually the closest to the veiwer. My most succesful images with this process though are the ones with the simplest shapes. I never really mastered lots of detail without losing subtle detail in the shadows.

 

[Bob Carnie]

Sandy , Jorge

to answer the tissue issue I would be mistaken in trying, though you mentioned a gentleman's name. Todd , he is a good friend of Johns and they have shown prints together here in Toronto. Todd would be a good source.

John Bently , lives and works in Toronto, when he can , John loads up a bus, now a truck with his 8x10 camera and transparancey stock, as well he carrys with him a Jobo processor whith chemicals, Sometimes a unfortunate fool trys to travel with him and inevitably curses his luck but still loves the time with John. Loading film shooting a large format camera with the skill of a craftsman using a leica, he roams Mexico and has recorded some of the most visually appealing colour images I have seen.
After a days work he will wait till dark, unload , and process the film in the Bus using the Jobo.

Jorge, the next time he leaves the city I will post, and if you would like I will ask him to drop by your neck of the woods, as he always travels with sample prints.
If there was ever a person who could be described as a hard core photo devote , John would be my nomination.
In fact John is the reason I got into Photography, in the late 60"s I was a chokerman on the BC ISland coast, John was my rigging slinger. Spending a period of time with John convinced me that if such a nice person was so interested in Photography then maybe I should give it a try. 30something years later I have John to thank for getting into such a wonderful and rewarding profession

 

[Jorge]

Sandy , Jorge

to answer the tissue issue I would be mistaken in trying, though you mentioned a gentleman's name. Todd , he is a good friend of Johns and they have shown prints together here in Toronto. Todd would be a good source.

John Bently , lives and works in Toronto, when he can , John loads up a bus, now a truck with his 8x10 camera and transparancey stock, as well he carrys with him a Jobo processor whith chemicals, Sometimes a unfortunate fool trys to travel with him and inevitably curses his luck but still loves the time with John. Loading film shooting a large format camera with the skill of a craftsman using a leica, he roams Mexico and has recorded some of the most visually appealing colour images I have seen.
After a days work he will wait till dark, unload , and process the film in the Bus using the Jobo.

Jorge, the next time he leaves the city I will post, and if you would like I will ask him to drop by your neck of the woods, as he always travels with sample prints.
If there was ever a person who could be described as a hard core photo devote , John would be my nomination.
In fact John is the reason I got into Photography, in the late 60"s I was a chokerman on the BC ISland coast, John was my rigging slinger. Spending a period of time with John convinced me that if such a nice person was so interested in Photography then maybe I should give it a try. 30something years later I have John to thank for getting into such a wonderful and rewarding profession

Bob, thank you and absolutely, please tell him to stop by if he can. Aside from having my darkroom at his disposal, I would like him to meet some people to show his work and have it published here in Mexico, got lots of contacts.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Anyone know what's become of Ataraxia? I just looked at their website, and they say they've closed.

 

[sanking]

I don't have any specifics as to when they closed their doors for good, but they quit making pigment prints quite some while ago, at least a year or more ago as I recall. I think they originally had a problem with the supply of the materials, such as the color tissue and various bases, and may have had a problem in actually making the prints. Plus, the archival quality of pigment prints made on inkjet printers must have certainly cut deeply into the market.

Sandy

Anyone know what's become of Ataraxia? I just looked at their website, and they say they've closed.

 

[avandesande]

I have a fairly large book on Paul Outerbridge, one of the color/caron pioneers. I will try to get my list in the book exchange tonight.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

That's unfortunate.