[rollei_list] Re: OT: "Alternative" Processes
- From: Mark Rabiner <mark@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 24 May 2008 13:34:11 -0400
>> Photogravure is one.
>> Uses ink. Known far and wide to be far superior to what comes out
>> of a late 20th century darkroom.
>
> Having done some simple intaglio work (some time ago), I'll have to
> admit that I'd take the compromise of the darkroom or the inkjet any
> time, over the gargantuan task that is photogravure. If you've never
> wiped and printed an aquatint or etching, you have no idea what a
> laborious and demanding process is. It requires strong organizational
> skills, solid knowledge of the chemistry, confidence, strong back and
> forearms and wrists, nimble dexterous hands, mechanical ability, some
> heavy equipment, and plenty of time and space. Just reading the very
> good description of the process in Wikipedia is tiring.
>
> If we're going to say that inkjet is easy in comparison to silver
> gelatin printing, and therefore less impressive, than what could we
> say about silver gelatin printing once we compare it to photogravure?
>
> I'm glad you brought this up Mark - it reminded me to open my mind,
> as it reminded me of the copper & zinc plates that humbled me in art
> school. It also reminds me why I love to work in my darkroom: it's
> fun and easy.
>
> Maybe in Fall I'll make a photogravure print.
>
> E.
> ---
We then come to realize that what makes the superior image is not the
superior process.
Convenience must be major part of the mix. I was leaving that out.
We settle for a process with the right combination of quality and
convenience for us to be able to deal with.
Detractors of the inkjet process simplictly imply we are giving up some
quality for a whole lot of convenience. In reality we give up nothing its
all win win.
Me I never kept the first print out of my darkroom trays after a test strip
any faster than I kept a first print out my my inkjet printer.
I do go through some paper; some "crafting" of an image.
Its not a Xerox machine to me with ten million shades of gray.
An inkjet compared to color darkroom is not a compromise.
Color inkjet is the superior processs in terms of the result.
unfortunately for me I'm mainly a black and white guy.
And black and white inkjet is not squarely better than a silver print.
I think that ones a tossup depending on the image and print your talking
about. I do have several examples of images I've done better with inkjet
than darkroom. But also others the other way around.
I've done a lot of intaglio printing by the way. No Photogravure.
....................
Mark William Rabiner
---
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