Dye Transfer via inkjet

[avandesande]

Basic workflow is using water soluble dyes inkjet printed onto waterproof transparency film (used in screen printing) and then transferring to mordant treated gelatin. You would use registration and 3 color separations like the traditional process. Anyone try this already? I don't know much about color printing so please poke holes in my idea if you do.

 

[koraks]

I've not tried it, but it might work. What I don't know is whether the dye/mordant system needs certain chemical compatibility and whether inkjet dyes would be suitable for such a system.

Moreover, I wonder why you'd bother with all this instead of just printing on the gelatin directly? I did some brief testing with that a few years ago and the results were quite promising provided the paper is nice and flat. https://tinker.koraks.nl/photography/easy-way-out-inkjet-on-diy-papers/

 

[avandesande]

I'm thinking about using actual/historic dye transfer dyes in refillable cartridges. I don't think that there is any way that inkjet on the surface is going to look the same as dye drawn into gelatin where it mixes with other colors. It's not a halftone effect.