Piezography: photographic works of art

Piezography: Printing Excellence for Fine Art Photography

In the demanding world of fine art photography, every detail counts: the precision of the nuances, the depth of the blacks, the subtlety of the gradations, the durability of the work, and respect for the artist's intention. Piezography, a highly specialized pigment inkjet printing process dedicated to black and white reproduction with unparalleled finesse, is part of this quest for excellence. On this page, I invite you to explore in depth this rare and refined process, which enhances some of my Imaginary Planets in their monochrome version. Whether you are a collector, art lover, or simply curious, piezography deserves your full attention.

What is piezography?

Piezography is a black and white fine art printing technique that uses a custom pigment inkjet system to produce photo prints with exceptional tonal richness and rendering. This process was invented in the 1990s by American photographer and technician Jon Cone. It responded to a demand among photographic artists: to achieve a deeper, more nuanced, and more stable black and white rendering than that offered by traditional four-color process (CMYK) inks.

Unlike standard inkjet prints, which use eight, or ten grey colors, piezography uses six to ten specifically formulated grayscale inks (from deep black to very light gray). Each shade allows for an unparalleled smooth transition between dark, mid, and light tones, without the color casts sometimes visible in other prints.

The name "piezography" comes from the word "piezoelectric," referring to the technology used by certain digital print heads to propel ink drops onto paper with microscopic precision.

The technical process: artisanal precision and digital excellence

1. Specially formulated inks

In piezography, the inks are not those supplied by traditional printer manufacturers. These are black and grey pigment inks, prepared with an extreme concentration of natural pigments, without chemical dyes, guaranteeing remarkable stability and depth of tone. Brands like Piezography® Pro, developed by Cone Editions Press, dominate this niche market.

2. Custom calibration

Each printer dedicated to piezography is completely reconfigured. It no longer contains color ink, but only black/grey inks with precise densities. The printer is paired with a custom ICC profile created for a specific fine art paper, guaranteeing a faithful, uniform, and consistent rendering. It is therefore not an automatic process, but rather a digitally artisan process requiring great expertise.

3. Exceptional fine art papers

Piezography is inseparable from the use of 100% acid-free, heavy-weight cotton fine art papers (often over 300 gsm), such as Hahnemühle Photo Rag, Canson Infinity, or matte baryta papers. These media offer ideal absorption capacity and a velvety feel, contributing to the emotion felt when viewing the photo print.

4. Editing work that enhances the work

Finally, the preparation of the digital file intended for piezography printing undergoes a specific process, with extreme attention paid to density, contrast, and micro-details. Each print is carefully edited, verified, numbered, and signed, according to the standards of limited edition fine art prints.

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The advantages of piezography

Unparalleled quality for black and white

• Ultra-smooth gradations, with no visible screens or tonal breaks.
• Dense, deep blacks, with no glare, especially on matte papers.
• Subtle greys, perfect for soft shadows, hazy skies, or natural textures.
• No color cast, unlike some prints produced with conventional printers.

Printing at the service of photography

Piezography reveals all the poetry of a landscape, the power of a gaze, the texture of a tree, the echo of silence. It is ideal for enhancing a black and white work of art, where every detail counts with an exceptional finish.

A rare and prestigious photo printing process

This type of photo printing is reserved for an elite group of fine art prints. Few photo labs in Europe are equipped to produce true piezography. This makes it an exclusive method, sought after by collectors, gallery owners, curators and foundations.

Conclusion: Piezography and Imaginary Planets, a Natural Encounter