A peek behind the scenes of this silkscreen edition
Words by Hugh O'Donnell
Digital imaging was done in 2015 when several of the Crimson album cover paintings were given an archival makeover, involving removal from their frames and replacement of old materials with acid-free mounts and museum grade UV resistant glass.
High resolution scans were made as part of this process.
The Crimson paintings undergoing some TLC.
The digital files, along with the original painting for colour matching, are then taken to specialist print makers Coriander Studios at Worton Hall Studios in Isleworth, West London.
A certain amount of digital clean-up is necessary, but it is decided from the start that the print should retain as much of the detail, in the form of pencil guide marks and the brush strokes made by the artist Peter Douglas, as possible.
With a number of printing options to choose from, the decision is taken to follow the same method employed for the In The Court of the Crimson King prints which is to use silkscreen printing.
The print making process begins with a digital colour inkjet, then an assessment is made as to the number of colours that will be needed to reproduce the image to maximum effect, with one stencil required per colour. Ink is applied to the paper using a medium line mesh screen. Eight colours are required for this image: Yellow, Blue, Red, Dark Blue, White, Black, Light Grey and Dark Grey.
With the background in the painting coming from the original paper stock, and taking into account that some oxidisation and yellowing has occurred over the years, a suitable off-white paper stock is chosen for the print, a 300gsm Somerset soft white satin.
Greg Day and his team at Coriander then go through a series of test print progressions until a proof copy is ready to send out for approval. After some fine-tuning the edition is ready to print.
The finished edition of 100 prints are collected and transported to DGM HQ where each print is signed in pencil by Robert Fripp.
And finally the prints are delivered to Hypergallery in Henley-on-Thames where viewings are available by appointment.
