Troubleshooting Carbon Printing

Philip Rosoff · Apr 21, 2020

I am a new member of this group but I have read from afar. I have been working diligently learning single transfer carbon printing for more than 6 months (thank you Messrs. Lockhart and King!). I am finally pleased with my results EXCEPT I can’t get the brown tint out if my prints even after washing with 3% metabisulfite). Info: glop made with B&S gelatin and Speedball India Ink; final support is Hahnemuhle 300 gsm fine art baryta ink jet photo paper (best I’ve tried so far). I am really looking for the deep blacks and clear highlights. Thank you all! Phil

Vaughn · Apr 21, 2020

I have not used Speed Ball India Ink. I am familar with Blackcat India Ink which is a very warm black. Speedball might be the same.

So the color may not be from residual chromate. For a more neutral black, people add an additional pigment to cool the color of the ink. Violet, etc. Sandy might have covered this in his recent book.

I use lampblack watercolor paints in tubes. A neutral black that I will sometimes warm up slightly with something along the lines of Burnt Sienna...just a touch of warmth...about 0.5 grams Burnt Sienna to 5.0 grams Lampblack. I like starting out neutral as a base...but watercolors are not the most economic pigment source, but not the most costly part of the process either.

Rick A · Apr 21, 2020

I have a bottle of Speed Ball India Ink, just haven't gotten around to using it. I have been using "Ivory Black" water color with a dab of violet, I don't remember my ratio at this moment. I have used brown with with my black for a warmer tone. Right now everything is packed away while I get ready to move.

Philip Rosoff · Apr 21, 2020

Vaughn said:
I have not used Speed Ball India Ink. I am familar with Blackcat India Ink which is a very warm black. Speedball might be the same.

So the color may not be from residual chromate. For a more neutral black, people add an additional pigment to cool the color of the ink. Violet, etc. Sandy might have covered this in his recent book.

I use lampblack watercolor paints in tubes. A neutral black that I will sometimes warm up slightly with something along the lines of Burnt Sienna...just a touch of warmth...about 0.5 grams Burnt Sienna to 5.0 grams Lampblack. I like starting out neutral as a base...but watercolors are not the most economic pigment source, but not the most costly part of the process either.

thank you! I have Mixol #11 violet on order as well as Black Cat and I’ll try them in my next batch. Appreciate it!

Philip Rosoff · Apr 21, 2020

Rick A said:
I have a bottle of Speed Ball India Ink, just haven't gotten around to using it. I have been using "Ivory Black" water color with a dab of violet, I don't remember my ratio at this moment. I have used brown with with my black for a warmer tone. Right now everything is packed away while I get ready to move.

Thanks!

Vaughn · Apr 21, 2020

The Ivory Black watercolor that I have tried has been much warmer, and not a opaque, as Lampblack...but there will be differences between brands, too. I appreciate a little warmth in my prints sometimes! Carbon print, 8x10:

Andrew O'Neill · Apr 21, 2020

I had issues with Speedball india ink as it has shellac or something in it that wold muck up my glop. I used to use an india ink from my local art store. I believe it was called Royal. It worked really well, and had a slightly cool tone. For several years now, I've preferred lamp black water colour paint. My favourite brand at the moment is Daniel Smith. Secondly, I always had clearing issues with inkjet papers, but I have never tried Hahnemuhle's. A quick size with acrylic matte medium made for a lovely surface to work with. My preference is acrylic medium sized Arches Platine, or Hahnemuhle Platinum Rag. No clearing issues due to the nature of the size.

Philip Rosoff · Apr 22, 2020

Vaughn said:
The Ivory Black watercolor that I have tried has been much warmer, and not a opaque, as Lampblack...but there will be differences between brands, too. I appreciate a little warmth in my prints sometimes! Carbon print, 8x10:

Thank you! Beautiful image!

Philip Rosoff · Apr 22, 2020

Andrew O'Neill said:
I had issues with Speedball india ink as it has shellac or something in it that wold muck up my glop. I used to use an india ink from my local art store. I believe it was called Royal. It worked really well, and had a slightly cool tone. For several years now, I've preferred lamp black water colour paint. My favourite brand at the moment is Daniel Smith. Secondly, I always had clearing issues with inkjet papers, but I have never tried Hahnemuhle's. A quick size with acrylic matte medium made for a lovely surface to work with. My preference is acrylic medium sized Arches Platine, or Hahnemuhle Platinum Rag. No clearing issues due to the nature of the size.

Thanks!

Philip Rosoff · Apr 27, 2020

Andrew O'Neill said:
I had issues with Speedball india ink as it has shellac or something in it that wold muck up my glop. I used to use an india ink from my local art store. I believe it was called Royal. It worked really well, and had a slightly cool tone. For several years now, I've preferred lamp black water colour paint. My favourite brand at the moment is Daniel Smith. Secondly, I always had clearing issues with inkjet papers, but I have never tried Hahnemuhle's. A quick size with acrylic matte medium made for a lovely surface to work with. My preference is acrylic medium sized Arches Platine, or Hahnemuhle Platinum Rag. No clearing issues due to the nature of the size.

Thank you!

Troubleshooting Carbon Printing

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