Carbon Print
A permanent pigment print patented by Joseph Swan in 1864. Carbon-tissue gelatin hardens in light and is washed away elsewhere, producing rich, durable tones that resist fading, in black, brown, red or blue.
Spot it
- 01Deep velvety shadows
- 02Matte pigment depth
- 03Slightly raised relief
Why it happens
Light-hardened pigmented gelatin remains on the support while soft gelatin washes away, so tonal depth depends on the remaining thickness of colored pigment, not on silver.
Recreate it in Pixio
Image edit prompt“Convert this image into a carbon print: deep velvety brown-black shadows, a rich matte pigment surface, soft but luminous midtones, delicate tonal gradation, a slightly raised gelatin relief at the darkest areas, and a warm paper mount. Archival and fade-proof in feel. Keep the original subject and composition.”
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