Selenium K7/K6 inks

(3 votes, average: 3.67 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Soft proof: Selenium K7 on JonCone Studio Type 2

This is one of my favorite ink sets. My teacher at Ohio University was Arnold Gassan. Arnold wrote one of the definitive text books on the history of Photography. His text books are still highly sought after:

• A Chronology of Photography; a Critical Survey of the History of Photography as a Medium of Art
• The Color Print Book: A Survey of Contemporary Color Photographic Print Making Methods for the Creative Photographer
• Handbook for Contemporary Photography

Soft proof: Selenium K7 Glossy on JonCone Studio Type 5

Arnold taught me most of what I know as a darkroom printer. He encouraged me to study the chemistry of photography. Although his tutelage was difficult (at best), his insistence that we make our own chemistry, fully understand the zone system, and become skilled practitioners of the darkroom was very influential in my later work as a development printmaker.

Arnold was very ill in his later life, suffering from terminal cancer. We had been in contact frequently and I was helping him to sort out some digital workflow. I asked Arnold to make me the definitive short-bath Selenium toned print on his favorite Ilford fiber based paper. That print was used for the *ab values to formulate Selenium K7 inks. We actually produced a software for use with our chemist that would allow us to achieve the match during formulation.

Soft proof: Selenium K7 Glossy on JonCone Studio Type 4

Selenium K7 is one of my favorite inks because I like Selenium toning – and I had so much respect for Arnold. It is also the first ink that I formulated that is glossy compatible when used with the MPS shade 1 and the Piezography Gloss Optimizer. It prints matte on matte and for that purpose is best used with the K7 shade 1 black.

As for its final color in glossy printing, on JonCone Studio Type 4 paper it’s very Ilford fiber based reminiscent. Maybe a dead ringer. Maybe hard to get any more replicant than this. Not to ring the bell to loud, but this may be the best possible replacement for the actual short bath, selenium-toned, fiber based silver print. On JonCone Studio Type 5, the warmth of the paper brings that warm Agfa paper back into the picture. Literally.

This ink is our number one selling ink.