Digital BW, The Print

Just to add a little perspective to the "carbon print" issue, the first
carbon-based inks appear to have been used with reeds and brushes in Egypt
and China about 45 or 50 centuries ago. These early inks were probably
mainly carbon in the form of soot or lamp black, suspended in vegetable oils
or animal glue.
(See http://www.io.com/~tyrbiter/ink.html)

This ink's endurance through 30 centuries is attributed to carbon's
resistance to light and moisture.
(See http://www.wmich.edu/ppse/pekarovicova/290999.html)

Carbon's use in imaging slightly pre-dates this.  Carbon black is the
primary pigment in the Paleolithic horses from the Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc cave
in southeast France (over 30,000 years old).
(See http://webexhibits.org/pigments/intro/early.html)

So, the next time someone asks you about the archival life of your carbon
pigment prints ...  ;-)

Paul
http://www.PaulRoark.com