Nice! Since I saw the mention of your book, I have been checking up of the polymer photogravure process and I think it will match well with my aesthetics. I have a couple photogravure prints (of O'Keeffe and of Picasso, both from Karsh's studio) and looks like the big stumbling block is the room set up and getting a press. If possible, can you do a subjective comparison between your book and Clay Harmon's book as his book is also fairly new?
I should mention that I like big prints, so 16x20, 20x24... or even bigger
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Sorry I didn't reply sooner. Didn't see this until just now.
The prints you have of Karsh images (i have the book) are ROTOgravures. The upper case letters are my emphasis. The same guy who perfected the photogravure went on a year later to invent an automated process for the printing industry, based on the same principles. Usually of lower quality, the rotogravure doesn't necessarily have to be, as the images you have attest.
The process Clay's book concerns uses readymade polymer plates used by the printing industry and the traditional photogravure approach of using a film (in this case, inkjet) positive and a random dot screen to establish the base tooth needed to hold ink.
The process covered in my book has never been addressed in print before so while there are lots of books on the use of readymade plates, there is just one in this arena. This process uses thin dry film photopolymers (also called "resists") that you attach to the base material yourself. Usually plastic, but can be copper, etc. Then, the positive image is printed directly onto this prepared plate in an Epson printer, the plate exposed, the ink washed off and the plate processed in a very mild alkali. (sodium carbonate) The approach I support is technically much more approachable and infinitely cheaper. A 5x7 manufactured polymer plate will cost you around $10. One of these plates, less than a dollar. Image quality with any of the approaches is top notch.
As with any printing process, the name of the game is iteration. With my approach, you can afford more iterations, thus taking the decision making power about your art away from your checkbook.
