Widest range of information on alternative photographic methods:

http://www.alternativephotography.com/

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Digital pigment printing refers to inkjet printers that use pigment based rather that water based inks.  Pigmented oil paint, and acrylic paints all last much longer due to the tiny particles of solid suspended in the oil or acrylic medium, this is the same for ink suitable for digital printers: images last much longer without fading.

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Instructional files for dry emulsion transfers:

emulsion transfer.pdf

photos emul transfers.pdf

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Digital pigment printing onto acrylic beginning in late 2007 I started experimenting with this new technique.

One advantage is that the pigment is sealed in acrylic topcoats that keep out damaging ozone, and the finishing layers also contain UV light screening that further adds to image longevity.

Artistically the acrylic print opens avenues of exploration into collage, over-painting, pen & ink and other media re-working of the surface.  That the image may be further interpreted, enhanced and explored with a variety of tools and media is significant for me.  Such prints are unique, and create possibilities for an edition of variations from the original digital matrix.  Not a copy but an original print, unlike a Giclée print.

I’ve found that I prefer inkAID White Matte Precoat for the receptor surface of these works.

See: http://www.inkaid.com/

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Giclée (zhee-clay) n.

A type of digital fine-art print; a giclée is a print reproduced digitally, using pigment or combined dye-pigment inkjet printing.   By using pigment inks combined with printing on acid neutral [archival] paper in extremely fine sprays a long lasting continuous tone image is created.

As an example Epson UltraChrome inks [pigment based] on watercolor paper are rated at 92 years of display life - under UV glass and properly framed.

The term is credited to Jack Duganne in 1991, at Graham Nash’s fine art printer studio: Nash Editions, Los Angeles, California.

November Woods II

   aluminum print

A transfer

Sources:

Surface for receiving the digital ink, Ontario Speciality Coatings Corp.: http://www.inkaid.com/

Aluminum plates from Graphic Chemical & Ink:

http://www.graphicchemical.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=235&cat=Plates

All do mail order.

TM