carbon process

n.
A photographic printing process using permanent pigments, such as carbon, contained in a sensitized tissue or film of gelatin.

Carbon process (or carbon transfer process or autotype). Invented by Poitevin in 1855, this was the most important colloid-hardening printing process, used until the 1980s. Pigmented gelatin layers on paper, manufactured by the Autotype Company in many colours besides carbon black, were sensitized with dichromate solution. Contact printing under negatives insolubilized the gelatin in proportion to the penetrating light. The hardened layer was transferred to a second sheet of paper, then washed with water to develop a positive image in the chosen pigment; a double transfer could rectify the reversed handedness. Permanent (‘UltraStable’) three-colour printing processes were realized commercially. Variants included the Artigue and Fresson processes.

— Mike Ware

Bibliography

• Nadeau, L., Modern Carbon Printing (1986)

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The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: a process of printing on paper coated with bichromated gelatin containing pigment

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