Carbon transfer

Carbon Transfer (Pigment Process) – Chemistry and Materials

The pigment process (carbon transfer) is one of the most permanent and noble historical photographic techniques. The image is formed within a gelatin layer containing pigment, meaning its color and permanence do not rely on light-sensitive silver salts.

In this category, you will find chemicals and materials for making carbon prints, including gelatin, pigments, and other ingredients and accessories needed to prepare materials for the carbon transfer process.

The process involves exposing a sensitized pigmented gelatin layer under a negative. Light exposure differentially hardens the layer according to the tonal values of the image. The image is then transferred to a final support and developed in warm water, which washes away the unhardened gelatin along with the pigment.