Archival Monochrome and Color Art Prints

Monochrome Piezography Carbon Pigment Inks

Since 2002, I have dedicated my printmaking practice to Piezography Carbon Pigment inks, a process that reflects the highest standards in black-and-white printmaking. Developed and refined by Jon Cone of Cone Editions Press, Piezography is widely regarded as one of the most archival and tonally accurate monochrome printing systems in use today.

My fine art prints are made on a converted Epson inkjet printer customized to work exclusively with Piezography carbon pigment monochrome inks. Unlike conventional inkjet systems that use dye or composite pigments, this process uses multiple shades of pure carbon to create exceptional tonal depth and smooth gradations. In black and white, the result combines the delicacy of fine silver gelatin prints with the permanence and richness of pure carbon.

Paper is equally essential. I print exclusively on Canson papers, produced by one of the world’s oldest paper mills, which has operated continuously since the 1500s. I use Canson Edition Etching Rag, a beautifully textured, museum-quality paper that complements the depth and subtlety of Piezography carbon. Together, Piezography inks and Canson papers produce prints that are exceptionally durable and verified to remain stable for centuries without fading. This level of quality and longevity is rare, offering confidence that future generations will value these works.

Epson printers and archival pigment ink, together with the longevity of Canson Platine Fibre Rag, create a luxurious baryta-style print with exceptional brilliance and tonal range. These materials are among the finest available, and their proven archival stability ensures the long-term preservation the inks require.

Before printing, both monochrome and color printers are calibrated using printed targets read with an X-Rite i1 Pro 3 Plus spectrophotometer. For monochrome printing, a Piezography 21 x 16-step target with 336 patches is measured in the Piezography Professional application. The resulting data is used to create a linear curve that keeps tones evenly spaced from dark to light. An alternative method uses ICC profiles, but this approach has drawbacks: shadows can become too dark, compressed, and unstable. Even so, ICC printing remains the industry standard.

For color printing, the X-Rite i1 Photo Pro 3 Plus application produces six 11 x 17 target pages, totaling 2,160 patches, which are then measured in Photo Pro to generate a custom ICC profile for the specific paper and printer. In this case, too, paper manufacturers create a universal profile for each paper type, and that remains the industry standard.

Print sizes range from 11x14 to larger. Framing uses conservation-grade materials. For quotes, editions, framing, or shipping, contact me. Learn more about John Palmer.

Browse photographs in the China, California State Parks, and 1970s Rock n’ Roll galleries.