Digital BW, The Print

Sunday, May 26, 2002, 7:55:09 PM, Tim Atherton wrote:

>>
>> Bill Agee calls them\ufffd "carbon based pigment prints, archival grade".
>>
>> I think it may be important to get the "archival" in there somewhere.
>>
>> Best regards,

TA> Especially as the term "archival can and is used to mean anything you want!
TA> So many manufacturers stick "archival" on their products just to sell
TA> stuff...

They would not do so if it did not work.  It's obviously a buzz word
that means something to the buyer. Because as a term it may be abused by
others we should avoid it?

TA> there is no real definition of archival, so I don't really see the
TA> point of including it. (conservators don't use the term in this way)

TA> carbon pigment prints is nice and descriptive as well as succinct. "Dye
TA> Coupler Prints" is the current in description for standard C prints

TA> - it's
TA> all about marketing.

EXACTLY! And by including something that says "archival" it might beg
the question, "and this means...?" and you then answer as to the exact
standard of the archival inks and papers you used and their longevity
status---even going so far as to compare it to familiar processes the
buyer might already know (standard silver-based papers, C prints,
etc.). A wonderful selling point! And this could go a long way towards
spreading the gospel and educating the masses.

Carbon pigment print might mean something to you and others who are
enthusiasts of this process but to a typical buyer be it at a gallery,
street art fair, or perhaps selling online, they may not know. I have
not been into this too long, just getting started actually, but from
what I've read of the quadtone inks and the papers people are using
with them any excuse to discuss the superior archival qualities I
would think would be an opportunity well taken advantage of.


Best regards,
 Richard  

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