Carbon Pigment Digital Prints

I am pleased to announce that, as of early 2002, all of my exhibition prints have been produced by digital means. I am making carbon pigment digital prints; they are so beautiful that I have no need or desire to return to a wet darkroom. These prints have luminosity and depth. Their surface texture is gentle, and their overall appearance is comparable to that of platinum and palladium prints. They are rich, subtle, and easy on the eyes. These prints are lovely.

My current workflow starts with a high resolution scan from a conventional B&W negative. I take this image into the digital darkroom, where all traditional photographic controls have a more precise counterpart. I may dodge shadow areas and burn in highlights; I frequently refer to my experience with Ansel Adams' Zone System for gradation control.

The digital image-making process is as involved as that of the wet darkroom. The primary difference between the two is that digital imaging requires additional expertise in contemporary technology

For the technically inclined, here are some details. I've replaced the dye ink set of a wide format printer with six cartridges containing various dilutions of pigmented carbon black ink. These carbon black pigments are permanent. Their archival properties are comparable to that of traditional silver chloride prints, and they've been formulated to print with absolute sharpness. My prints are made on coated, rag paper capable of resolving the finest detail. Detail smaller than an eyelash in a portrait can be discerned. Image tonal adjustments are made from 16-bit grey scale images, allowing 1,024 addressable grey values per ink cartridge channel. This translates into a longer tonal range than that of an Iris Graphics 3047 G printer, a standard in the museum-print world.

While it is possible to make a carbon pigment digital print that exactly matches its silver counterpart, that is hardly the point. I would argue that I can interpret an image better now. And, because of digital technology, I have access to creative choices that were previously unthinkable.

My colleagues say that I'm at the forefront of digital technology. Perhaps I am. But, after experiencing these carbon pigment digital prints, I can no longer be satisfied with anything less.

Please Contact Ricardo Barros for information about scheduling this presentation.

© Ricardo Barros 2006