Digital BW, The Print

Hello Carolyn,

Nice to hear from you.  

>I don't believe it's a new method, to sign directly on the paper the  
>image sits... old salt prints, gums, etc, that I've had the pleasure  
>of seeing, have some of the artists sign directly on the paper the  
>print resides. My Grandfather's turn of the century prints, etching,  
>etc, are also signed this way.

Good point.  It's nice to be reminded of these other print arts.  I
was of course thinking just of darkroom print mounting practices of
recent years.  A related thing that seems never to surface in
discussions is that what we're doing, printing ink on paper, isn't new
either, just our way of doing it.  Photogravure comes to mind.  To me
it's sort of romantic to think that I am, in a way, doing something
ancient.  I like to emphasize that my prints are ink prints and are a
different medium than emulsion prints, but lots of people seem
uncomfortable with the "ink print" idea and don't want to mention it.

How are you printing these days?  My last BO machine bit the dust a
few months ago, so everything right now is K3/ABW on VFA and STA
(Innova Soft Texture Art - the best non-OBA matte paper I've found for
K3 ink).  I've tried most of the new fiber glossy papers, but nothing
rings my bell just yet.  Ilford GFS comes closest so far.

Regards,
Clayton


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