Digital BW, The Print

Hello Colin,

>I presume and hope that, after awhile, there is no 'ink' or glycol 
>in my prints.  

Well, hmmm...how can we get away from the fact that we are putting ink
on paper?  I suppose we could call it "paint", since oil and
watercolor paints use pigments, but I don't think anyone would go for
that.  Seems to me that if we are putting colored liquid onto paper
we're using an ink process, regardless of how it gets there.


>I don't like using the word 'inkjet' either as it is 
>a process not an attribute of the print.

Yes, and too broad a term.  Since it covers dye as well as color pigs
and BO, it's similar to "painting", which includes watercolors,
acrylic and oils.  Not specific enough to describe what we're doing.


>'Pigment print' seems accurate to me if no dyes are involved 

Yes, except it's sort of ambiguous for someone who doesn't know
anything about it - it will require some explaining.  Pigment Print
could also include color inkjet prints.  We need something that says
"Black and White", without any ambiguity.


>'archival pigment print' may be OK for some, if the purchaser 
>and seller equally understand what 'archival' means.

Agreed, and even more esoteric than the above, to the uninitiated. 
Too awkward and artificial sounding as well - sounds contrived or
something...and still could include color prints.

I still think Carbon Ink Print has fewer negatives and more positives
than all the others.  But there seems to be some resistance to using
the word "ink", as if somehow that lessens its stature.  To me it's
just the oposite - it describes accurately what we're doing and adds
an aura of distinction.  I think that's an important element in
whatever name is ultimately used.  Our prints need a unique, distinct
and elegant identity, one that implies as much respect and prestige as
"platinum" does.  Imagine a prestigious gallery advertisement:

Platinum prints
Carbon Ink prints
Silver-Gelatin Prints
Gum Bichromate prints
Carbon Prints
Salt prints
Albumen prints
Photogravures
Tintypes
Daguerreotypes
Calotypes

Do any of the other terms fit here as well as Carbon Ink?  We need a
term that carries its own weight in this line up.  It needs to:

- accurately describe what it is to a layperson
- be easy to remember and say, to "roll off the tongue easily"
- not sound contrived, too mechanical or technical 
- not seem to be defensive (the term "archival" seems that way)
- not be confused with anything else ("Ink" takes care of this)
- imply longevity ("Carbon" is an already established term which does
this)
- fit, in an emotional or romantic sense, with the others 
in the list.  Somehow to me, anything with "pig" in it doesn't quite
make it - it simply lacks elegance.

Please understand that I'm not arguing for this because I made it up,
I didn't.  It's just one of many that I've seen used (forums, web
sites, books, magazines, gallery ads).  It just dawned on me one day
that there was no agreement and that it's hurting acceptance, so I
made a list of all the terms I knew of.  Carbon Ink Print is simply
the one that seemed to best fit the requirements, and after a lot of
thought it became apparent that someone needed to make an effort to
get some agreement and get it moving along.  So I wrote the two
articles on my web site in hopes that something will happen.

IMO, quite a few years will have to pass before Carbon Ink Prints (or
whatever we call them) gain the stature of the others in the mass
mind.  Not because they are inferior, but simply because anything new
has to take time to seep in and find its place, plus it is still an
emerging technology.  I believe the term we use will play an important
role in the length of time and degree to which this happens.  It
partly a PR challenge.  Remember the story about how diamonds weren't
a viable world-wide commodity until the "A Diamond Is Forever"
campaign made them desireable in the mass market?

It's not too late, but I think we need to get on with it.  I think we
need to agree on something and begin using it and getting others on
board.  Those of us who show, in galleries or any other venue, should
insist that this term be used in the promotions.  Don't let the
gallery owners decide for us.  

Regards,
Clayton


Info on black and white digital printing at    
http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm