Photo pigment prints, like any other photographic print, are original works of photographic art because they are the final means by which the artist’s creativity is ultimately produced; the same as if they were produced on any other photographic paper.

Many painters also use this process for the reproduction of their original paintings.  When this is done the term giclée is more commonly used.  However, although the same process for printing is used it is a reproduction because it was derived from the original creative process.  A hand-glazed pigment print (or giclée, pronounced "zhee-clay") can only be considered an original when done by a photographer or a digital artist since it is a means to an end to produce the creative process. 

The hand-glazed pigment print was developed as a plateless method of high quality, fine art printing. These prints are a blend of art and science and employ a new technology that sprays microscopic droplets of permanent, stable pigment-based inks directly onto a variety of archival papers or canvas. The result is the most highly saturated and dynamic color range to date, allowing the hand-glazed pigment print image to equal that of any work of art. Each print, produced one at a time, requires extensive handwork and finishing, resulting in an incredibly lush, velvety texture.

WHAT IS AN ILFOCHROME?

ILFOCHROME (also known as CIBACHROME) was developed by the Ciba-Geigy Corporation of Switzerland in the 1960s.  It is a positive-to-positive color printing process which takes an original positive

transparency and creates an original positive print image while retaining a first generation sharpness without the need for an *internegative.  Other processes such as negative printing processes, "Type R" processes offered by Kodak, Fuji and others, are often referred to as chromogenic processes.  These processes use color dyes that are in the chemistry.  These color dyes then interact with the developer to form a color image on the paper.  With the Ilfochrome Classic the dyes are built into the paper and are bleached out selectively in processing.  These dyes are called AZO dyes and are known for their vivid color, stability, and longevity.
 
Ilfochrome Classic prints are renowned for their archival qualities, rich colors, and sharpness.  This sharpness is due to the fact that the dyes are in the paper, not in the chemistry, and the dyes in the emulsion act as an anti-light scattering layer.  Because of this, the projected image does not spread out as it penetrates and exposes the emulsion. 

Unlike chromogenic processes, which create greater quantities of toxic dyes, this process is also more environmentally friendly as it does not waste chemistry.  The fixer is conventional and processed after use for silver removal while the developer used for the Ilfochrome process is similar to that used in black and white processes.   In the bleach step any sulfuric acid used is neutralized with sodium bicarbonate before disposal and contains no toxic substances after it has been treated. 

The most common of the two printing surfaces use in Ilfochrome Classic is the glossy.  This surface contains no paper but is made entirely of plastic with a polyester backing.  This is also the paper that is used in all archival tests.  The second type of paper, called Pearl, has more of a matte surface.  It is made of a resin-coated paper material, and though it still has the same emulsion and characteristics of the glossy paper, the Pearl is not considered archival.  Therefore, archival in this case has nothing to do with fade-resistance as the same emulsions are use by both types of paper.  What it means, in extremely rare cases, is a possibility that the emulsion can separate from the backing.  With this in mind, most professional photographers will prefer to print using the glossy paper. 

It is important to note that this process is different from the Ilfochrome Rapid method.  Ilfochrome Rapid is a faster process and has very different printing characteristics.  Therefore, when a lab does your developing be sure to specify which process you want.  If you're not sure or you are having difficulty finding answers ask what chemistry they use in the processor.  P3, P3X, P30, and P30P are the only chemicals that can be used with the Classic material.  If you are told its P4 then the lab is using the Rapid material.  If you are considering the purchase of a photographic work of art be sure to look carefully at the print and ask the photographer about what processes were used.

C-PRINT
C-print, or Kodak C-print, is a color photographic print made on negative-type color photographic paper which has at least three emulsion layers of light-sensitive silver salts. Type C is a negative-to-positive chromogenic print. The most common Type C print process is RA-4. It is the most common format of color photographs.

The exposure phase of a Type C print may be accomplished with a traditional photographic enlarger, as well as with digital exposure techniques such as a Durst Lambda or Océ LightJet. These digital techniques use red, green, and blue lasers, yielding a digital C print (sometimes called a Lambda print or LightJet Print) after processing. The Lambda system has the capability of correcting paper sensitivity errors which would be impossible with conventional printing methods. (From Wikipedia)

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR PHOTOGRAPHIC ART

If properly taken care of, any of the printing methods Ms. Winstanley Roark uses to create her images should last as long as any other original work of art created on a similar surface.  Ms. Winstanley Roark does protect her finished hand-glazed pigment print (both paper and canvas prints) with a UV protectant.  However, it is important to remember that any works of art can fade if exposed to prolonged or direct sunlight.  Even overly bright rooms can cause a certain amount of fading if the art is exposed for long periods.   

Also, it is possible that humidity can cause waving of the paper or canvas.  This will usually flatten out once the humidity drops to a normal level. 

Lastly, smoke and other chemicals can cause damage to any work of art and it is important to keep your art environment free of any type of chemical that can degrade the work of art.  All of Ms. Winstanley Roark's photographs are printed using the highest quality hand-glazed pigments and substrates available.  She takes great care to ensure that they are then protected in a way that will help them to last a life time.  This includes her protective finish and the 100 percent acid free framing she uses.  But, in the end, a lot depends on your personal display environment and how you take care of your work of art!

***Internegative - a negative that is created off of a positive transparency.

*Transparency - a color slide.

NOTE: Ms. Winstanley Roark creates an original limited edition of only 10 photographs for each image, regardless of printing method or size.  Her photographic art is priced according to size.  To check printing medium for individual photographs, sizes, prices and availability of image editions, please contact the gallery.

Unframed open-stock and unsigned prints of Ms. Winstanley Roark's images are also available with prices starting at $50. and up, depending on size.  These open-stock prints are done on a poster paper stock and are not hand-glazed.  Please contact the gallery for availability and complete pricing information for these open-stock prints.

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