Troubleshooting Carbon Printing

[Philip Rosoff]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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!