Paints and pigments

Paints & Pigments

In historical and alternative photographic processes, colour can be created either by adding pigment directly to the light-sensitive layer or by applying printing ink to the prepared surface of the print. The choice of material therefore depends primarily on the process you are working with.

Pigments for gum bichromate and carbon printing are used to give colour to the image-forming layer. In gum bichromate, the pigment is mixed with gum arabic and the light-sensitive component, while in carbon printing it becomes part of the gelatin image layer. Good tinting strength, fine particle size and even dispersion are particularly important.

Inks for the oil printing process are used differently. They are not added to the coating before exposure, but are worked or applied onto a prepared, exposed and moistened gelatin layer. The image is formed through the selective acceptance of ink by the print surface.

In simple terms: choose pigments for gum bichromate and carbon printing, and specialist printing inks for the oil printing process.