Printing

Utilizing skills pulled out of the 1980s photo-comp era where Bob worked as a photo-comp specialist, producing page layouts for advertising, our lab combines 19th century historical printing methods with 21st century digital methods.
Some equipment used as far back as the 1700s is now combined with current programs like Photoshop, digital printers, and state of the art UV exposing systems.
To create three types of prints we require multiple workflow steps that are unique to us. We currently specialize in gum dichromate process, combined with platinum palladium processes to create a single monochrome and/or realistic photographic full colour prints.
These prints are the ultimate in colour permanence. Unique to this process is the way the pigmented gum is layered over palladium with multiple coatings which creates the individuality of each print. No print of the same image will ever be the same.

Duo-Tone Gum Bichromate

This printing process uses only one negative but prints up to 6 different colours over top of each other. With brush work and water spray, the printer reveals the underlying colour that was laid down first to create beautiful results.

Gum Over Palladium

Gum over palladium prints are known and admired for many reasons, among them a rich and delicate tonal scale and unmatched archival quality. Since the prints are hand coated onto artist quality rag paper, the image actually sits within the fiber of the paper which gives them an inner glow that is not obvious in other methods of printing.
By adding a gum layer to the palladium print, one can see the following benefits...
1) Increase contrast
2) Increase D-Max (blacks)
3) Add depth to the print
4) Add colour to the print - An example of this Edward Steichen's The Pond - Moonlight (1904).
Far more resistant to light, oxidation and chemical contamination than silver, from other processes, these prints from the mid-1800s show no fading or staining.
A well processed palladium print lasts as long as the substrate it is printed on; the paper base will fall apart before the metals show any change.
With consultation we can determine the number of negatives needed in order to achieve the look of the image we are aiming for.

Tri-Colour Gum Bichromate

Tri Colour Gum Bichromate Prints can be made from any existing digital file. In Photoshop we separate the CMY and black channels out and make separate black and white negatives that record each colour. Then we re-strip the film in register over a light box, these films (exact print size ) are then laid on coated watercolour paper and exposed and processed out in four different stages. It takes minimum two days to make the finished print.

Multiple Gum Over Palladium

In this process we use Palladium (noble metal) as the image outline. With Photoshop separation methods we separate out the Black/White channel to make the Palladium, and the C , M or Y channel to create the colours.
It is possible to work from Black/White negatives using Photoshop to separate the Highlight and Shadow areas to make negatives that can be used to create a duo tone or tri-tone print.
These prints are highly subjective and extremely permanent on watercolour paper.

Work Flow Considerations
We have a small group of artists that have taken one-on-one workshops with Bob. These clients now know how to carry-out each step in preparing their files based on our working methods, and therefore have the ability to send us completely edited files, ready for print (this is specifically referring to preparation needed for multiple layer prints over palladium). These individuals are in our opinion qualified to do this.

We will prepare negatives for any working process based on our in-house work flow. When sending files to us, the resulting negative is final. You will have to adjust your printing work flow and/or file preparation to get the results that you are looking for.
Negatives can be created for processes such as calotype, gum, palladium, cyanotype, and more. We cannot predict your work-flow or calibration habits.
* It is a common internet fallacy that the manufacture is always to blame when something goes wrong. So, if you are using our negatives, (prepared with our work-flow methods) to work in your dim-room/darkroom, you must understand that there is a give and take. We have established with thousands of prints that come from our negatives' work. If you should run into issues during your printing, adjustments to your process may be required. We are open to consultations (for a fee ), however, please remember that we are not in your darkroom with you, and are unable to troubleshoot specific issues.

Currently we are doing a lot of preparation work for complicated jobs that come to us - this includes editing, black and white conversion from colour files, digital prep for specific printing, and large order printing. We specialize in alternative processes like silver gelatin and gum-over printing.

Digital Prep / Conversion / PS Editing
/ Neg Generation

Digital Inkjet Negative Output
(included is conversion by not registration of film)
Up to 11x14 inches
Singular: $ 35
Duo-Tone (two negatives): $50
Tri-Tone (three negatives): $75
Quad-Tone four negatives): $85
Up to 17x22 inches
Singular: $40
Duo-Tone (two negatives): $70
Tri-Tone (three negatives): $95
Quad-Tone four negatives): $125
Up to 20x28 inches
Singular: $60
Duo-Tone (two negatives): $95
Tri-Tone (three negatives): $140
Quad-Tone four negatives): $180
Up to 24*x36 inches
Singular: $85
Duo-Tone (two negatives): $100
Tri-Tone (three negatives): $160
Quad-Tone four negatives): $240
* these sizes are standard but will require live area considerations
* film registration is at $80/hour, quote required

Size (Up to)

11x14 inches
16x20 inches
22x30 inches
27x36 inches

Duo-Tone Gum

$175
$250
$300
$400

Tri-Tone Gum

$225
$300
$350
$425

Gum Over Palladium

$225 (not including film)
$300
$400
$600

Tri-Colour Gum Over Palladium
$300
$400
$475
$700

LEARN MORE ABOUT EACH PROCESS

SILVER GELATIN
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

LITH PRINT PROCESS
P art 1
Part 2

DARKROOM
Trays and Washing
Enlargers

DARKROOM TONING
Sepia Selenium

SOLARIZATION
Part 1
Part 2
Enlarger Prints Onto Silver

We will do the inversion and flip horizontal for the client and will sharpen if required.
Most photographers these days have good workflows for dodge and burn, black and white conversion.
If you feel that you do not have these skills please consult with us and we will assist in making your files ready.

Duotone and tri-colour separation is available – please email to discuss

Like digital fibre prints we image at the following specs:
Adobe 1998- 8bit flattened tiff (no alpha channels)
400 ppi resolution
Simple name of file (i.e. Carnie1.tif)