The Bostick & Sullivan Book of Modern Carbon Printing A contemporary approach to the classic hand made carbon print $39.95 Dick Sullivan HonFRPS Cover image, Dick Sullivan, “Rocks I - Spahn Ranch” Neg. 4x5, c. 1968, carbon print 2006, 16 x 20 in, Printed: February 2 2010 : 12:1 The Bostick & Sullivan Book of Modern Carbon Printing Being a manual of technique, with a bit of history, irrelevant trivia, and philosophical musings by the author. Dick Sullivan HonFRPS The Bostick & Sullivan Press Santa Fe, New Mexico www.bostick-sullivan.com www.carbonprinting.com Copyright 2007 Dedicated to: Melody Bostick, who has been my wife for 42 years. Thank you for making my life rewarding and fun. www.bostick-sullivan.com 505-474-0890 The Book of Modern Carbon Printing v Table of Contents of Contents Table Foreword to this edition ............................................................................................2 Background of the carbon print .................................................................................5 What is a carbon print? .............................................................................................................................5 What is not a carbon print .......................................................................................................................8 Introducing the carbon print .................................................................................... 9 The tissue ......................................................................................................................................................9 Sensitizing ....................................................................................................................................................9 Exposing ........................................................................................................................................................9 The carbon “problem” ................................................................................................................................9 The solution to the problem ..................................................................................................................10 Developing the image .............................................................................................................................10 The image is reversed ..............................................................................................................................10 The image .................................................................................................................................................... 11 Why make carbon prints? ........................................................................................................................ 11 Comments on Supports ........................................................................................... 14 Microporous ink jet papers ....................................................................................................................................... 14 Synthetic paper or plastic. .......................................................................................................................................... 14 Fixed out photographic paper. .................................................................................................................................16 Hand sized Art ...............................................................................................................................................................16 Exotica ...............................................................................................................................................................................16 Setting up to make your First print .......................................................................... 17 The things you will need .........................................................................................................................17 The print making process in brief ..........................................................................................................17 The single transfer method ...................................................................................... 18 Issues ............................................................................................................................................................ 18 Preliminary steps to making carbon prints ........................................................................................ 18 Prepare your negative with a safe edge ...............................................................................................................18 Sensitizing the tissue .................................................................................................................... 19 Inspect and cut the tissue ..........................................................................................................................................19 Decide on a contrast grade ........................................................................................................................................19 Mix the sensitizer ......................................................................................................................................................... 20 Brush sensitizing ...................................................................................................................................... 20 Brushing the sensitizer .............................................................................................................................21 www.bostick-sullivan.com 505-474-0890 The Book of Modern Carbon Printing vi Gently Squeegee the surface ..................................................................................................................21 You can dry the tissue with a fan ..........................................................................................................21 Cut the tissue .............................................................................................................................................22 Exposing the tissue ..................................................................................................................................23 Mate the final support to the tissue ....................................................................................................24 Notes on final support papers ..................................................................................................................................24 Table of Contents Table Prepare the cool mating bath ...................................................................................................................................25 Dip the tissue in co0l bath .........................................................................................................................................25 Pull out together face to face ....................................................................................................................................25 Squeegee together ........................................................................................................................................................25 Wait ................................................................................................................................................................................... 26 Developing the tissue on support paper ............................................................................................................. 26 Peel off the backing.......................................................................................................................................................27 Gooey mess ......................................................................................................................................................................27 Continue to develop the print ..................................................................................................................................27 The Double Transfer Method .................................................................................. 29 Mate to temporary support .................................................................................................................. 29 Making the Gelly Cubes. ........................................................................................................................ 30 Transfer to final support ........................................................................................................................ 30 Soak final support paper .......................................................................................................................................... 30 Mate temporary support to final paper support ............................................................................................ 30 Wipe ....................................................................................................................................................................................31 Dry ........................................................................................................................................................................................31 Peel .......................................................................................................................................................................................31