Digital BW, The Print

I think it is a good point that the traditional Fiber B&W papers are not 100% cotton BUT 
also remember that they have only been in use for how long?  100YR's maybee.  So, who 
knows how archival they will prove to be.  Here is an excerpt from a great site on Artist 
Materials:

"Lignins comprise 20 to 30 percent of wood, but only 1 percent of cotton fibers. Because 
of the high concentration of lignins in wood, papers made from wood pulp discolor and 
eventually self-destruct. Although there are methods for the removal of most or all of the 
lignins, unless the residual chemicals used in these processes are also dealt with, 
embrittlement and acidification will only be postponed. For this reason, wood-pulp papers 
are generally avoided for perma nent artwork. Because it is nearly lignin-free, paper made 
from 100 percent cot ton is most desirable. The recently developed process for the 
removal of all lignins is being used at this time primarily to manufacture boards and 
storage containers used in archives, in conservation, and in museum-style framing."

Taken from this page: http://www.trueart.info/paper_chemistry.htm

and on the same site there is an interesting history on paper here:

http://www.trueart.info/paper.htm

So, given the choice, 100% Cotton would be the safest, most tested archival material to 
use

Tariq


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Clayton Jones" <cj@c...> wrote:
> Hello Tyler,
> 
> >I think it's important to remember that none of the darkroom papers
> we
> >all used for many years, and considered "archival", were cotton. 
> 
> Yes, it's so easy to slip into a mindset about something.  When I got
> into this cotton was king and I adapted that without question.  My
> first response to hearing about AC papers was suspicion.  Now that
> I've finally accepted and turned to have a look my printing life has
> suddenly been enriched.  Broader horizons, new dimensions, whatever
> you want to call it, it's great.  Kayenta and Fiba are the cream
> rising to the top - really fine papers.
> 
> Regards,
> Clayton
> 
> 
> Info on black and white digital printing at    
> http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm