Studio & Edition | FAQ

Originally developed by master printer Jon Cone in 2016 in Vermont, USA, Piezography® Pro represents the most advanced carbon-based monochrome printing system in use today. blackprint has mastered this process since November 2016.

Unlike standard inkjet systems that rely on color inks to simulate gray, Piezography® Pro uses up to 11 pure carbon-based inks. Through a dual warm–cool ink architecture, we create fully bespoke tonal renderings with absolute neutrality and no metamerism. Carbon pigments offer exceptional archival stability, far exceeding conventional pigment or dye-based inks.

This approach delivers unmatched black density, perfectly smooth gradations, and museum-grade permanence, ensuring that your prints remain visually identical for over a century under proper conditions.

Technical specifications:

Resolution: 2880 dpi
Workflow: Full 16-bit processing
Ink System: Carbon-based inks with Gloss Overcoat (eliminates bronzing and gloss differential on glossy and baryta papers)

Learn more about our carbon printing process

We curate an exceptional range of media, including rare Japanese Washi and fine art papers:

The Extremes: From ultra-thin 2g/m² Washi to ca. 400g/m² deckled-edge art papers.

Unique Textures: Black abaca handmade papers, Cartalafranca, Arches Velin BFK Rives, and traditional papers crafted by “Living National Treasures” in Japan.

Standard Excellence: Awagami, Hahnemühle, Canson, and Moab in matte finishes.

All papers are calibrated in-house to ensure maximum D-Max (black density) and smooth grey gradations.

Additional notes:

Printing on your own paper is possible; a test is performed to check compatibility. Pricing depends on paper difficulty.

Maximum paper width available: 100 cm.

For gallery-standard results:

Format: 16-bit TIFF
Resolution: 300 dpi at the desired print size
Profile: Gray Gamma 2.2

Files from mobile devices, including iPhones, are also accepted. We can advise on optimal preparation for your image.

High-resolution scanning is done with a Screen Cezanne Elite FT-S5500 scanner (up to 329 × 530 mm, 25 mm thickness) or alternative high-resolution camera system.

Framing is done in collaboration with master craftsmen in Zurich, creating museum-quality wooden frames with anti-reflective glass.

Retouching and scanning services are available upon request.

Price lists are available on request. Special rates are offered for artists wishing to create and resell editions.

Our editions come from our private collection of original glass plates (positives and negatives) dating from 1860 to 1910, except for the karo#03 collection, which is a selection of photographs by Johannes Meiner (1867-1941) curated by Ylva Meyer from the Building History Archive of the City of Zurich.

Each plate undergoes extensive historical research and preparation before publication.

Karo Collection: Dedicated to our glass plate archive, exclusively printed in-house in Zurich on exclusive Swiss/Japanese papers (30 × 30 cm), numbered, and delivered in vinyl-style packaging.

– 1st series: 365 copies | 2nd series: 90 copies | 3rd series: 200 copies | 4th series: 90 copies

– Tiers: Karo Collector (max 30), Karo Museum (max 15), Karo Artist (max 90).

Private Collection: Selection of curated subjects from our archives, printed at the studio on prestigious media (Cartalafranca, Arches Velin BFK Rives, etc.), strictly limited to 5, 10, or 15 copies.

Artist Editions: Exclusive collaborations with contemporary artists, produced at the studio, hand-signed and numbered. These are studio-printed in very small runs (unique or 3–7 copies + 2 AP max).

Phygital / NFT Editions (since 2021): Hybrid artworks combining the physical piece, printed by blackprint studio (except Diego Brambilla’s series), with blockchain technology.

– Format: Typically 1/1 unique pieces, pairing a physical master print with a digital twin (NFT).

– Certification: Hand-signed and secured via Verisart Blockchain.

OFF (One-of-a-kind) Editions: Unique artworks created directly by the artists of the blackprint edition, using their own artistic techniques outside of our studio printing.

– Viewing: Showcased in our Zurich gallery and available for viewing by appointment.

– Certification: Hand-signed by the artist and delivered with a Verisart blockchain certificate to ensure provenance.

Karo edition/collector/Artist: 30 × 30 cm
Karo Museum: 90 × 90 cm
Private collection: up to 89 × 225 cm
Phygital: from 23.5 × 30 cm up to 58 × 48 cm
Glass Laminated edition: 90 × 90 cm & 100 × 135 cm
OFF edition: up to 220 × 220 cm

Each edition is hand-signed and numbered, usually on the back.
Paper editions feature a tactile hallmark: six embossed dots in the bottom right corner.

Editions since September 2022 include a Verisart Blockchain Certificate of Authenticity (COA & COA+).

The print is vacuum-sealed between two 2 mm mineral glass sheets in a specialized oven for 12 hours. The edges are polished, creating a frame-less, art object.

Most blackprint editions from September 2022 onward, including Karo Collector, Karo Museum, Private Collection, and some Artist Editions, include a Verisart Blockchain Certificate. This provides collectors with a secure, verifiable record of authenticity. For more information, visit Verisart Getting Started.

Verisart is the world’s leading platform for certifying art through blockchain technology. Each certificate provides an immutable, cryptographically secure record of the artwork’s provenance.

It guarantees that the edition was produced by blackprint and, where applicable, authorized by the artist. This digital title can be securely transferred to a new owner, maintaining a transparent, verifiable history of the work.

COA (Certificate of Authenticity):
A fully digital, blockchain-encrypted certificate. It includes high-resolution images, detailed metadata (paper type, ink, edition number), and the artist’s or studio’s digital signature, creating a permanent digital link between the owner and the record of the work.

COA+ (Certificate of Authenticity Plus):
Adds a physical layer of security. Includes a Secure QR Sticker, a tamper-proof holographic seal applied to the back of the artwork. The sticker features a unique serial number and a secure QR code, which instantly verifies the physical piece against its digital blockchain record. This “Phygital” link (physical + digital) offers the highest level of protection against forgery.

Upon acquisition, you will receive an invitation to claim your certificate. You can store it in your Verisart account (free) or in a private digital wallet.

If you decide to sell or gift the artwork, you can use the Transfer function to securely pass the digital title to the new collector, ensuring the provenance remains intact and verifiable.

No, guest checkout is possible. Creating an account allows you to track order history and access previews.

We offer a wide range of secure payment options tailored for both global collectors and local visitors:

Online Orders:

Standard: Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal.
Swiss Locals: TWINT (including the “Pay Later” option).
Crypto: Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Cardano (ADA), and other ERC-20 tokens via Crypto.com Pay or MetaMask.

At the Studio (Zurich):

For in-person acquisitions, we accept PostFinance, TWINT, Visa,  Mastercard, and WeChat-pay
The “Click & Collect” option is also available during checkout for local pickups.

All online transactions are securely processed via professional SSL encryption to ensure your data remains protected.

Worldwide: Free shipping for unframed and non-laminated editions
Switzerland: Free delivery even with framing
Click & Collect: Pickup directly at our Zurich studio

Delivery times: 2–4 days in Switzerland, 7–20 days or more internationally

International shipments may be subject to local import taxes; actual purchase price is declared.
If artwork arrives damaged, contact us immediately via email or WhatsApp with photos. Replacement or refund will be prioritized.

For cancellations, tracking, or other questions, contact us via email or WhatsApp.
The team is available to guide you through the process.

D-Max refers to the maximum optical density of the deepest black achievable on a print. A high D-Max is essential for achieving deep, “velvety” blacks and rich shadow detail in monochrome photography.

Carbon Inks use pure carbon particles rather than dyes or conventional pigments. Carbon is the most stable and lightfast pigment known, ensuring exceptional archival longevity and resistance to fading over years.

Washi is traditional Japanese paper handmade from natural fibers such as Kozo, Mitsumata, or Gampi. It is prized for its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio and its distinctive organic texture.

Gray Gamma 2.2 is a standard grayscale working space for black and white photography. It ensures that tonal values displayed on a calibrated monitor correspond accurately to the tonal output of the printer.

Provenance refers to the documented history of an artwork’s origin and ownership. Verisart blockchain certificates provide a secure, tamper-proof digital record of this history.

Chroma Optimizer is a transparent coating applied during printing on glossy or baryta papers. It reduces bronzing and differential gloss, ensuring an even surface reflection across the entire print.

AP (Artist’s Proof) refers to prints reserved by the artist outside the numbered edition. They are identical in quality to the edition prints but are marked “AP” and are often highly sought after by collectors.

Deckled Edge describes the natural, uncut edge of handmade art paper. It is often left visible in framing to emphasize the artisanal and physical character of the paper.