The blackprint Process — Museum-Grade Black-and-White Fine Art Printing

Piezography® Pro Black-and-White Printing

The Alchemy of Carbon blackprint works exclusively with a dedicated monochrome system based on carbon pigment inks. No color dyes are involved at any stage.

Tonal richness is achieved through our signature blending process of two distinct ink sets—warm and cool. This system unlocks millions of tonal combinations, allowing us to produce anything from subtle, custom split-toning to a perfectly calibrated neutral print.

For matte surfaces, we utilize Ultra HD Matte Black ink to deliver one of the highest dMax (black density) levels achievable in inkjet printing. This exceptional depth, combined with extremely fine resolution, produces continuous tonal modulation and a shadow richness that rivals the most demanding traditional silver gelatin prints.

For glossy and baryta papers, a proprietary Gloss Optimizer is applied simultaneously with the pigments. This micro-encapsulation technology coats each carbon particle in a brilliant co-polymer, effectively eliminating gloss differential and bronzing. The result is a perfectly uniform surface where the image’s visual integrity remains consistent, regardless of the viewing angle.

Unlike conventional commercial printing, the blackprint process is built upon custom linearization curves, developed individually for every paper in our collection. This mathematical precision ensures that the digital file is translated into a physical object with absolute fidelity.

Because carbon is elemental and chemically stable, these prints offer unrivaled archival permanence, designed to remain unchanged for centuries. This approach establishes Piezography® Pro as one of the most advanced and enduring systems for fine art photography today.

Detail of Piezography® Pro print on handmade Japanese paper.

© blackprint edition – Karo collectors

Fine Art Papers for Black-and-White Photography

The choice of paper is integral to a print’s identity. blackprint works with an exceptional range of coated and uncoated fine art papers, from one of the world’s thinnest papers (2 g/m²) to heavyweight handmade art papers reaching up to 500 g/m².

Our paper collection is living and continuously evolving, shaped by ongoing research and experimentation. We actively source rare papers produced by master craftsmen, including works by Japanese “Living National Treasures” (国宝 – Kokuhō). Many of these limited-batch papers are available only briefly, making certain editions inherently time-bound and unique.

The curated selection includes artisanal Japanese Washi, Swiss Cartalafranca, historical Arches BFK Rives, Awagami Inkjet papers, and carefully chosen surfaces from established manufacturers such as Canson, Hahnemühle, Innova and Moab.

Photographers and artists are also welcome to bring their own papers for evaluation, allowing each project to reflect a precise balance between technical requirements and artistic intent.

Piezography® Pro on the thinnest paper in the world (1.6 – 2 g/m²)

© blackprint edition – wonow

Laminated Glass Objects for Photographic Prints

For selected projects, we transform prints into sculptural objects through a specialized laminated glass process. Using museum glass — ultra-clear and non-reflective — the print is thermally bonded between two glass panes (2 × 2mm) with a dedicated interlayer.

This process is carried out under vacuum for more than ten hours, ensuring structural integrity, UV protection, and exceptional optical clarity. The result is a monolithic object rather than a conventional face-mounted print. Each piece features diamond-polished edges and can be displayed freestanding or wall-mounted, offering a minimalist presence where materiality, light, and the image interact directly.

Handmade Himalayan paper (20 g/m²) printed with Piezography® Pro, vacuum-sealed between 2mm mineral glass.

© blackprint edition – Diego Brambilla

In-House Craftsmanship

From black-and-white tonal calibration to paper selection and final finishing, every step is carried out in-house at our Zurich studio. This complete control over the entire process ensures that each print — considered not only as an image, but as an object — meets our exacting standards of material quality, permanence, and precision.

While digital previews provide a useful overview, the essential qualities of our work — the texture of handmade papers, the depth of carbon blacks, and the physical presence of laminated glass — can only be fully understood through direct experience.

blackprint — studio, gallery, and edition

blackprint is both a fine art black-and-white printing studio and a public gallery space in Zurich, Switzerland.

The blackprint edition, produced in-house by blackprint studio, is the studio’s editorial program for curated historical and contemporary works.

Together, these activities—gallery, studio, and blackprint edition—operate under a single entity, managed by the two co-founders at the same Zurich address.

For those based in Switzerland or visiting the region, we strongly encourage a visit to explore our paper collection and view our editions firsthand.

For detailed technical specifications on file preparation, please refer to our FAQ.

Examples of our papers and laminated glass editions can be explored in the blackprint edition store or on Instagram.

We invite you to discuss your project with us, or send us your files to order a test print.