Carbon Transfer Printing: A Step-by-Step Manual, Featuring Contemporary Carbon Printers and Their Creative Practice from Focal Press is a book about one of the earliest photographic processes that provided the first permanent printing methods, available in one form or another for over 150 years. This book reviews the extensive history of carbon transfer and related pigment processes in both monochrome and color, to serve as point source for a new carbon printer to begin to master the craft of carbon printing as well as provide new material for experienced carbon printers so they can expand their techniques. The book includes never-before-published information on pre-sensitizing carbon tissue with newly identified compounds, information on the safe use and disposal of hexavalent chromium compounds, and simplified methods of producing 3-color carbon prints.
Carbon Transfer Printing is divided into two parts, illustrated with 175 photographs. Part One is a complete how-to on the carbon transfer process, from simple to complex, with a troubleshooting guide and an extensive chapter on digital negatives. Part Two is devoted to contemporary carbon printers who share their methods and secrets to creating their beautiful carbon prints. Carbon Transfer Printing is designed for both the beginning carbon enthusiast as well as for the advanced practitioner. Backed with extensive research on carbon printing from books, journals, and magazine articles from the 1800s to present day, and the extensive personal experience in carbon printing of the authors, there is enough information in this book to provide inspiration and proof of both the glorious past of carbon printmaking and its enduring importance to a new generation of image makers who value the handmade print.
- Key events in carbon’s history
- How to organize the carbon workplace
- Sections on necessary supplies and equipment
- A step-by-step digital method of making high-quality digital negatives
- Simple and advanced methods of carbon printing
- How to make carbon tissue, including several methods of pre-sensitizing
- How to choose UV light sources for printing in carbon
- Step-by-step processing directions
- How to prepare final support papers
- Troubleshooting carbon
- Multi-layer printing to add tone, or make a full color carbon print
- Finishing and final presentation of carbon prints
- A gallery of images and advice from contemporary carbon printers
Chapter 1: History of the Carbon Transfer Process
Chapter 2: Overview, and Making Your First Carbon Transfer Print
Chapter 3: Supplies and Materials
Chapter 4: The Working Environment
Chapter 5: Negatives for Carbon Printing
Chapter 6: Making Supports for Single and Double Transfer Carbon Printing
Chapter 7: Making Carbon Tissue
Chapter 8: Basic Working Procedures for Single Carbon
Chapter 9: Multilayer Transfer Carbon
Chapter 10: Color Carbon
Chapter 11: Alternative Materials and Working Methods with the Carbon Process
Chapter 12: Finishing the print
PART TWO
Contemporary Carbon Transfer Artists
Chapter 13: Artists and Their Creative Practice
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Bibliography
Index
Don Nelson has been a large format photographer since 1976, using 8x10, 7x17, and 12x20 inch cameras. Nelson has been an alternative process printer for the past three decades, using primarily carbon and platinum/palladium since 1991, although he has experimented with most alternative processes.
John Lockhart was inspired by the platinum work of Paul Outerbridge which led him to handcrafted printmaking and ultimately carbon transfer. In his work, Lockhart combines the authenticity and immediacy of documentary and street photography with a painstaking approach to printing each image as a handcrafted artifact. Lockhart is also involved in preserving, evolving, and teaching the craft.