Tom, I taught myself the process from a magazine article in 1992. I did not know anyone else making them, and never saw an actual carbon print...and this was before the internet became the conduit of information as it is today. So I spent about two years making prints until I got the ones I wanted...although the first ones were not too bad. I has seen some raised relief in the early prints that would disappear as the prints dried (the gelatin shrinks). So those two years was spent figuring out how to expose and develop my negs and how to make the carbon tissue in order to keep the raised relief after the prints dried. I did not realize (thankfully, LOL!) that carbon prints usually did not have raised relief.
But now with the internet and forums like this and the Carbon Forum, one can look at online prints, get feedback and immediate help. People are experiment with new and rediscovered techniques and materials, and sharing that information -- it is all pretty exciting. Commercial carbon tissue is now being made, and there are workshops in carbon printing (I am giving one at the Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite Valley next week). So I would say that the learning curve has been significantly flattened. It is not that difficult of a process...there just are a lot of variables to keep in check and little details in the process a newbie can trip on. It does tend to be a time-consuming process, but very inexpensive.
Vaughn
