Digital BW, The Print

"Don" <donsbryant@...> wrote:


>... ink jet printing ... has become mainstream.

Only on coated papers and with standard inksets.

> Typically only antiquarian printing techniques and process are considered alt. including silver gelatin.

True, but I believe the reasons many bother with them is that it distinguishes their work.  Relative to standard inkjet printing, use of watercolor papers also is a way to distinguish one's work from the usual practices.


> I know the logic is that modern ink jet printing is a primarily carbon pigmented based so therefore there is a linkage to historical carbon pigmented printing but in my book that's bit of a stretch, ...


Although I could argue that 100% carbon pigment printing uses much the same image forming substance, I don't, in fact, make any particular reference to an old technology.  It's just not relevant, in my view.

My perspective is that doing something different that is seen as better in some respects by at least some people is a useful alternative to the standard practice.  In general parlance, perhaps mostly outside the traditional photographic field, the term "alternative" is often used to describe such practices.  (Alternative medicine and alternative brokers come to mind.)  

I think one can argue that printing with 100% carbon pigments on a paper like Arches watercolor paper is an "alternative" inkjet printing process.  It does not have the nostalgia element of many of the wet process "alternative" printing processes, but it does accomplish some of what I suspect many practitioners of alternative processes are after.  On the other hand, I assume most of them will take issue with this perspective.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com