Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "Paul Roark" 
<paul.roark@v...> wrote:
> This morning I coated my first Eclipse 16x20 (17x22 paper) 
with a wire-wound
> rod and polyurethane.

-------

Paul,

As you know, I've been the lead cheerleader for this coating 
thing, waving my pom-poms for you and Robert.

I have been coating with a Winsor Newton oil glaze called 
Wingel. It dries to a gloss, whereas my other product, Oleopasto, 
dries to more of a satin. I have not been going for that 
"uniform/perfection" technique that you and Robert have been; 
I've been going for a more handdone, funky, human look. I apply 
it to the print with a plastic 5" putty knife, spread it around 
somewhat evenly, then I dab the end of a 3" paintbrush into the 
varnish to add a texture. 

Probably not what most people would do, but it works for me.

I've been applying it onto either ESFA sheets, or Museo sheets, 
or PhotoRag sheets, using Ultrachromes on a 9600. I like the 
coating because it de-computerizes the print by adding a human 
touch, and it also deepens the WEAK BLACKS of the 9600 with 
matteblack loaded.

The lack of black in the Ultras is obviously an issue for me, but 
therapy is taking off the sharp edges. (RIGHT? Answer me, Paul, 
dammit!)

But yesterday I just hit the wall, and dumped my MatteBlack and 
replaced it with PhotoBlack. I tested some prints on Luster and 
SemiMatte; the blacks suck with that technique too. (There's just 
nothing like a dye black).

But my point is: I'm bailing from the whole coating thing, just 
because of the huge amount of post-production that it adds. With 
Wingel, I apply either three or four coats, and so you've got prints 
lying all over the studio, WET, and just asking for some piece of 
dirt to land on it. Not to mention stray brush hairs or a million 
other possible things to land on the surface. In short, it's just out 
of control.

I had to make a decision that I'm a photographer, and not a 
printmaker. I guess I could be a printmaker, but there's only so 
many hours in the day, and I had to come back to the fact that it's 
about THE IMAGE. Yes, the print should be compelling, but it's 
about the image.

Today, I'm still not happy. I refuse to buy a dye 7600 for the 
blacks. I just couldn't live with myself, knowing dye prints were 
leaving here. If I only printed for myself, maybe so. 

Anyway, continued luck with your coating adventures. You're 
gonna need it.

-Mark Tucker, http://marktucker.com/