Digital BW, The Print

Thanks, Eric and Paul,

Erick: That's a good suggestion, but I guess I know the ground here a
little better so will probably stick with this forum for now.

Paul:

> Most of the techniques used by forum members should easily meet this 
> standard.  It would be interesting to see what they require.
> 
> With today's best materials and heavy reliance on expensive Wihelm 
> testing, I fear it's going to take more than what I or other 
> individuals will probably be able to do to have much effect.

Seems to me your findings should be equally acceptable, especially
after I've read your .pdf you mentioned. Maybe I should send the
Register people that document, for starters?

> I didn't have any success with their links.

Sorry... actually I didn't try them till you mentioned it, and I too
had some trouble.
 
> I wonder if they'd do the testing?

I could certainly ask ... 
 
> Since neither Wilhelm nor RIT have tests of what we use, I mostly 
> used generic information on my PDF relating to the issue.  
> See http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/R1800-Lightfastness.pdf
> 
> I'd done enough of my own testing to generally conclude that the 
> Epson MK, K2-PK, K2-LK, as well as MIS Eboni and PK, and Piezo Museum 
> MK were all very good and better than the colors (cyan is great in 
> some light but not with airborne problems). 

The Register lists Ultrachome inks as acceptable... but doesn't this
process involve some use of the color carts, which I understand makes
this process less archival than 100% carbon?

> I think you're right, but whether it's worth the work for any 
> individual is a harder question.

I'm willing to initiate a contact, neophyte that I am.

> incentive, the issue may become academic -- literally.  A professor 
> suggested to me that a young associate professor who is looking for a 
> niche might be interested in our processes -- what are probably in 
> the category or "alternative" processes at this point.  So, that is 
> one area I might look at.

My former roomate is a post-doc in organic chemistry, now works at
NIH. Might give him a call, he might have some contacts.
 
> In any case, the issue is interesting.

It truly is... as I said before, I think this community really has
something to offer the world of archival documentation of historic
sites and structures. The Register mentions putting the images on a CD
but I would go them one further and suggest they recommend gold CD's.
They're not as expensive as the term sounds and are supposed to last
much longer than every-day CD's.

Paul