Carbon and carbro Archives - AlternativePhotography.com

Using photographic patents as a source of information

Trying to find relevant sources of information for the surface relief properties of gelatin, Paul A. Lehman finds an unusual source to find answers: The patent archives. He shares his findings here. Each patent provides detailed information on emulsion ingredients, preparation and processes, which can be reproduced in a suitable home darkroom laboratory. Writer and photography / Paul A. Lehman Color and Gelatin Relief Emulsions U.S. Patents Issued to Michele … Read more

CarbroGel example print. Mission Door, San Antonio, Tx by Paul A. Lehman. 8"x9". Negative 1975. Print 1999.

Novel Experimental Approaches for Making Pigment Prints

After struggling with making Carbon Prints in the late 1990s, Paul A. Lehman explored alternative approaches to making pigment prints. Writer and photography / Paul A Lehman, MSc. It is well recognized that the Carbon Print is considered by most as the quintessential historic pigment process. However, the process of making a carbon print is challenging and requires skill and patience. I struggled through this process in the late … Read more

Kelp carbon process – A direct positive carbon photographic process

Kelp carbon is not for the beginner. The kelp carbon process is a direct positive carbon photographic process. Jim Patterson shares his process. Writer and photography / Jim Patterson In short: Sodium alginate (from kelp) is the Colloid and Ferric (iron iii) Oxalate is the Sensitizer. The image is pigment bound to a support in the hardened (insoluble) colloid. What is Kelp Carbon? Traditional carbon prints are negative working; a … Read more

Carbon printing – process overview

An excerpt from The Carbon Print explaining the basic steps to transform pigmented gelatin into a print in the Carbon print process. Writer and photography / Sandy King and John Lockhart Carbon transfer is a contact printing process that produces an image formed by a layer of hardened, pigmented gelatin on a surface which is usually paper. The surface on which the image is printed is generically referred to as … Read more

Carbon printing – getting started

Writer and photography / Sandy King and John Lockhart An excerpt from The Carbon Print explaining how to use the book, be safe, and avoid common pitfalls with the Carbon print process. If you are a veteran carbon printer, you should feel comfortable jumping around this book to topics of special interest. For new carbon printers, there is a path through the working procedures that will be the most helpful … Read more

Carbon Transfer Printing by Sandy King, Don Nelson, John Lockhart

Carbon Transfer Printing: A Step-by-Step Manual, Featuring Contemporary Carbon Printers and Their Creative Practice by Sandy King, Don Nelson and John Lockhart Buy from Amazon.com Buy from Amazon.co.uk Buy directly from Routledge publishers Reviews the extensive history of carbon transfer and related pigment processes. The carbon print is a new version of the book “Carbon and carbro” that went out of print some time ago. Advice and tips for … Read more