FRESSON four color carbon process

The original film negatives are used directly and successively for exposure by enlargement of each pigment emulsion. On photographic cartoline paper, non-baryta and non-shrink, emulsified with cyan-sensitised pigment and then dried, the first primary monochrome print corresponding to the negative image selected under a red filter is enlarged. After developing the first primary monochrome, the paper is dried, then emulsified in yellow, sensitised and exposed by enlargement under the black and white film, selected under the blue filter. This yellow monochrome, superimposed on the cyan, is developed. The print is emulsified with the last primary pigment, magenta, sensitised, then exposed by enlargement under the black and white film exposed under a green filter.

The pigment emulsion is stripped and, at this stage, three primary emulsions are deposited on the support, producing total colour synthesis through trichromatic subtractive selection (cyan, yellow and magenta, combined in infinitely variable proportions, reconstructing the entire visible colour spectrum).

Due to the systematic imperfection of all primary colour pigments, and in line with all high-quality photomechanical colour printing processes, a black pigment is applied to large shadows in order to increase and neutralise these high densities through its covering power. The trichrome proof is therefore emulsified with black pigment, sensitised and exposed by enlargement under the black and white separation film plane under a dense yellow-green filter of the large densities of the colour reversal.
The four-colour print undergoes its final processing. After a long wash to remove all traces of bichromate, the image is dried in the open air and then passed through a hot press. This is followed by very careful retouching, sometimes accompanied by touch-ups. The image is covered with a light layer of finishing gelatine to protect it.

The original print is a unique piece and its appearance may differ from the digital representation. Available only upon order.