Jon Cone
Encyclopedia
Born in Miami, Florida in 1957, Jon Cone is a collaborative printmaker, pioneer and developer of photographic ink jet technologies, educator, and photographer. Cone is best known for the founding of the world's first digital printmaking studio, Cone Editions Press and developer of quad-black ink jet systems for printing fine black-and-white photographs including the first commercially available method of producing fine art black-and-white prints in the digital darkroom.
atelier. Within 40 minutes of Manhattan, Cone invited artists to make prints with him using a variety of printmaking techniques including Serigraphy, Woodcut
, Etching
, Monotyping
, and Photogravure
. Cone developed and offered unique hybrid techniques in direct response to the painting, drawing or sculpture of a specific artist. Artists worked in concentration with these techniques over periods of time; often several years. Cone began to pioneer computer printmaking in 1984 with David Humphrey and Joel Fisher.
In 1982, he began to focus his attention on artists of the Second Generation of the New York School, publishing original prints and multiples of Stanley Boxer
, Norman Bluhm
, Lester Johnson, and Wolf Kahn
.
In 1984, he began to publish prints and multiples of younger generation painters including Emily Cheng, Lydia Dona, Janet Fish
, Willy Heeks, David Kapp, Carole Seborovski, and Archie Rand
.
In 1987, Cone opened Cone Editions Gallery at 560 Broadway in New York City's SoHo
arts district. The gallery featured the offbeat and unusual experimental projects which ranged from large scale Potato Prints to computer generated etchings and silkscreens to large painterly abstractions. The first show was devoted to Poem Prints by painter Norman Bluhm
and poet John Yau
, a series of eight large-scale prints drawn from life with a nude-model at the Cone Editions print studio. On March, 27 1988, a photograph of one of Archie Rand's large-scale Potato Prints graced the page 1 of the Sunday Edition of the New York Times Art Section in an article by critic Hilton Kramer
In 1987, Cone Editions Gallery show the first computer generated etchings and silkscreens in an Exhibition entitled The Proof.
In 1989, Cone moved his printmaking and publishing operations to the small rural village of East Topsham, Vermont. Erecting a purpose-built three-story post and beam studio dedicated to the advancements of digital printmaking, Cone Editions began to publish computer assisted printmaking projects in screenprint, monoprint, and aquatint gravure. In 1992, Cone began offering direct digital output with IRIS 3047 printers
.
Cone's development began to include software and inks for Iris 3047 printers and from 1994 to 1997 was the Development and Marketing Partner of IRIS Graphics for the fine art market. Cone was responsible for selling Iris printers and providing his own methodology of training to more than 40 Giclée studios in the USA including David Adamson Editions, Muse-X Editions, Hunter Editions, Donald SafTech, Jamie Cook, and many others. According to Peter Alpers, former Business Line Manager/Visual Arts of IRIS Graphics, Inc. "Cone is widely regarded as a pioneer in digital printmaking and one of its most knowledgeable and skilled practitioners. From my point of view, he has materially shaped the digital-printmaking industry."
In 1995, Cone began development of his quad-black inkjet printing method for producing fine black-and-white photographs. By replacing the four conventional CMYK color inks of the IRIS 3047 printer with his own formulation of four monochromatic shades of black ink and developing his own system of software and lookup tables, Cone began to produce photographs that were replicants of platinum/palladium printing. Cone found that three shades of black were needed to convey continuous tone, and a fourth monochromatic ink could be used for split toning, a process of allowing a photograph to appear warmer through the shadows. Cone called this invention DigitalPlatinum for IRIS. The most notable project produced with this technique was Diana Michener's Solitaire for Peter MacGill
in 1997.
Cone developed his first color ink jet formulation ConeTech WGFA inks in order to realize the brighter gamut needs for photographer Richard Avedon
. Cone would print the Avedon portfolio "In Memory of Mr. & Mrs. Confort: A Fable in 24 Episodes, as well as Gordon Parks
color prints for the Corcoran Gallery of Art
Parks retrospective: Half Past Autumn: The Art of Gordon Parks. Cone continued the use of the Iris printer into the next millennium producing Botanica Magnifica in 2007 for the Smithsonian's rare book collection
, a double-elephant sized suite of 5 books depicting photographer Jonathan M. Singer's rare botanical photography. In 2009, Cone began collaborating with photographer Zana Briski
printing black & white Iris prints of Briski's new insects portraits, a work in progress.
In 1999, Cone introduced a commercial monochromatic black & white printing system of inks and ICC profiles for the Epson 3000 printer that allowed photographers to produce a wide range of monochromatic tones from warm to cool using archival color inks and ICC profiles for Somerset Velvet paper. This was the first inexpensive quad-black system to be released by ConeTech. In 2000, Cone would trademark Piezography as a name brand for a product line of archival black and white inks and software that continues through several generations of product releases, distributed by Cone's InkjetMall.com. From 2002 until 2008, Cone would develop and introduce higher standards of monochromatic ink jet products for Epson printers including PiezoTone (2002), PiezographyBW ICC (2004), Piezography iQuads (2005), Piezography K7 (2006), Piezography MPS (2008).
In 2006, Cone introduced a new concept in ink formulation by developing an ink set for Epson printers that was "color-managed"
during formulation by matching the color gamut produced by the OEM's printer driver, rather than attempting to imitate single ink positions that would later be controlled by ICC profiles. ConeColor inks are compatible with Epson Ultrachrome ink sets, being designed for use with the OEM driver, OEM workflow and OEM ICC profiles.
Cone moved part time to New York City from 2006 to 2008 to live in residence at the apartment of photographer Gregory Colbert
to produce an ambitious print project (both in scale and technology) for Colbert's Ashes and Snow Nomadic Museum. A proprietary system of 11 monochromatic Piezography inks and software was developed by Cone in his East Topsham, Vermont studio and transposed to Roland DG
AJ-1000 110" printers to produce triple split-tone black&white photographs on enormous 2.4m × 5.7m sheets of Japanese handmade paper produced by Awagami for the Ashes and Snow Nomadic Museum exhibitions in Tokyo and in Mexico City which attracted more than 8.5 million visitors, making it the most attended exhibition by a living artist in history.
and at Goddard College
.
In 1993, Cone established the Cone Editions Digital Workshops in East Topsham, Vermont as a hands-on approach to teaching digital printmaking. Attendees were introduced to the concepts of a complete digital workflow in practice rather than in theory. Cone introduced his direct ink jet transfer technique at a workshop he taught, organized by Dorothy Krause called "Beyond The Digital Print" at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design to a group which included the five artists who would later become the "Unique Editions"
.
Career
Jon Cone established Cone Editions in 1980 in a two-story loft building at 112 N. Main Street, Port Chester, NY as a collaborative PrintmakingPrintmaking
Printmaking is the process of making artworks by printing, normally on paper. Printmaking normally covers only the process of creating prints with an element of originality, rather than just being a photographic reproduction of a painting. Except in the case of monotyping, the process is capable...
atelier. Within 40 minutes of Manhattan, Cone invited artists to make prints with him using a variety of printmaking techniques including Serigraphy, Woodcut
Woodcut
Woodcut—occasionally known as xylography—is a relief printing artistic technique in printmaking in which an image is carved into the surface of a block of wood, with the printing parts remaining level with the surface while the non-printing parts are removed, typically with gouges...
, Etching
Etching
Etching is the process of using strong acid or mordant to cut into the unprotected parts of a metal surface to create a design in intaglio in the metal...
, Monotyping
Monotyping
Monotyping is a type of printmaking made by drawing or painting on a smooth, non-absorbent surface. The surface, or matrix, was historically a copper etching plate, but in contemporary work it can vary from zinc or glass to acrylic glass. The image is then transferred onto a sheet of paper by...
, and Photogravure
Photogravure
Photogravure is an intaglio printmaking or photo-mechanical process whereby a copper plate is coated with a light-sensitive gelatin tissue which had been exposed to a film positive, and then etched, resulting in a high quality intaglio print that can reproduce the detail and continuous tones of a...
. Cone developed and offered unique hybrid techniques in direct response to the painting, drawing or sculpture of a specific artist. Artists worked in concentration with these techniques over periods of time; often several years. Cone began to pioneer computer printmaking in 1984 with David Humphrey and Joel Fisher.
In 1982, he began to focus his attention on artists of the Second Generation of the New York School, publishing original prints and multiples of Stanley Boxer
Stanley Boxer
Stanley Boxer was an American artist best known for thickly painted abstract works of art. He was also an accomplished sculptor and printmaker....
, Norman Bluhm
Norman Bluhm
Norman Bluhm , was an American painter classified as an abstract expressionist, and as an action painter.- Biography :...
, Lester Johnson, and Wolf Kahn
Wolf Kahn
Wolf Kahn is a German-born American painter.Kahn is known for his combination of realism and Color Field, and known to work in pastel and oil paint. He studied under Hans Hofmann, and also graduated from the University of Chicago...
.
In 1984, he began to publish prints and multiples of younger generation painters including Emily Cheng, Lydia Dona, Janet Fish
Janet Fish
Janet Fish is a contemporary American artist. She paints still life paintings, some of light bouncing off reflective surfaces, such as plastic wrap containing solid objects and empty or partially filled glassware....
, Willy Heeks, David Kapp, Carole Seborovski, and Archie Rand
Archie Rand
Archie Rand is an artist from Brooklyn, New York. Rand's work as a painter and muralist is displayed around the world, including in the collections of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Bibliothèque Nationale de...
.
In 1987, Cone opened Cone Editions Gallery at 560 Broadway in New York City's SoHo
SoHo
SoHo is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City, notable for being the location of many artists' lofts and art galleries, and also, more recently, for the wide variety of stores and shops ranging from trendy boutiques to outlets of upscale national and international chain stores...
arts district. The gallery featured the offbeat and unusual experimental projects which ranged from large scale Potato Prints to computer generated etchings and silkscreens to large painterly abstractions. The first show was devoted to Poem Prints by painter Norman Bluhm
Norman Bluhm
Norman Bluhm , was an American painter classified as an abstract expressionist, and as an action painter.- Biography :...
and poet John Yau
John Yau
John Yau is an American poet and critic who lives in New York City. He received his B.A. from Bard College in 1972 and his M.F.A. from Brooklyn College in 1978...
, a series of eight large-scale prints drawn from life with a nude-model at the Cone Editions print studio. On March, 27 1988, a photograph of one of Archie Rand's large-scale Potato Prints graced the page 1 of the Sunday Edition of the New York Times Art Section in an article by critic Hilton Kramer
Hilton Kramer
Hilton Kramer is a U.S. art critic and cultural commentator.Kramer was educated at Syracuse University, Columbia University, Harvard University, Indiana University and the New School for Social Research. He worked as the editor of Arts Magazine, art critic for The Nation, and from 1965 to 1982,...
In 1987, Cone Editions Gallery show the first computer generated etchings and silkscreens in an Exhibition entitled The Proof.
In 1989, Cone moved his printmaking and publishing operations to the small rural village of East Topsham, Vermont. Erecting a purpose-built three-story post and beam studio dedicated to the advancements of digital printmaking, Cone Editions began to publish computer assisted printmaking projects in screenprint, monoprint, and aquatint gravure. In 1992, Cone began offering direct digital output with IRIS 3047 printers
Iris printer
An IRIS printer is a large-format color inkjet printer introduced in 1987 by IRIS Graphics of Bedford, Massachusetts and currently manufactured by the Graphic Communications Group of Eastman Kodak, designed for prepress proofing...
.
Cone's development began to include software and inks for Iris 3047 printers and from 1994 to 1997 was the Development and Marketing Partner of IRIS Graphics for the fine art market. Cone was responsible for selling Iris printers and providing his own methodology of training to more than 40 Giclée studios in the USA including David Adamson Editions, Muse-X Editions, Hunter Editions, Donald SafTech, Jamie Cook, and many others. According to Peter Alpers, former Business Line Manager/Visual Arts of IRIS Graphics, Inc. "Cone is widely regarded as a pioneer in digital printmaking and one of its most knowledgeable and skilled practitioners. From my point of view, he has materially shaped the digital-printmaking industry."
In 1995, Cone began development of his quad-black inkjet printing method for producing fine black-and-white photographs. By replacing the four conventional CMYK color inks of the IRIS 3047 printer with his own formulation of four monochromatic shades of black ink and developing his own system of software and lookup tables, Cone began to produce photographs that were replicants of platinum/palladium printing. Cone found that three shades of black were needed to convey continuous tone, and a fourth monochromatic ink could be used for split toning, a process of allowing a photograph to appear warmer through the shadows. Cone called this invention DigitalPlatinum for IRIS. The most notable project produced with this technique was Diana Michener's Solitaire for Peter MacGill
Peter MacGill
Peter MacGill is "one of the most important contemporary photographic gallerists". In 2005, he was listed as the 15th most important person in photography by American Photo magazine...
in 1997.
Cone developed his first color ink jet formulation ConeTech WGFA inks in order to realize the brighter gamut needs for photographer Richard Avedon
Richard Avedon
Richard Avedon was an American photographer. An obituary published in The New York Times said that "his fashion and portrait photographs helped define America's image of style, beauty and culture for the last half-century."-Photography career:Avedon was born in New York City to a Jewish Russian...
. Cone would print the Avedon portfolio "In Memory of Mr. & Mrs. Confort: A Fable in 24 Episodes, as well as Gordon Parks
Gordon Parks
Gordon Roger Alexander Buchanan Parks was a groundbreaking American photographer, musician, poet, novelist, journalist, activist and film director...
color prints for the Corcoran Gallery of Art
Corcoran Gallery of Art
The Corcoran Gallery of Art is the largest privately supported cultural institution in Washington, DC. The museum's main focus is American art. The permanent collection includes works by Rembrandt, Eugène Delacroix, Edgar Degas, Thomas Gainsborough, John Singer Sargent, Claude Monet, Pablo...
Parks retrospective: Half Past Autumn: The Art of Gordon Parks. Cone continued the use of the Iris printer into the next millennium producing Botanica Magnifica in 2007 for the Smithsonian's rare book collection
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
, a double-elephant sized suite of 5 books depicting photographer Jonathan M. Singer's rare botanical photography. In 2009, Cone began collaborating with photographer Zana Briski
Zana Briski
Zana Briski is a photographer and filmmaker best known as the director of Born into Brothels, the 2004 winner of the Academy Award for Documentary Feature...
printing black & white Iris prints of Briski's new insects portraits, a work in progress.
In 1999, Cone introduced a commercial monochromatic black & white printing system of inks and ICC profiles for the Epson 3000 printer that allowed photographers to produce a wide range of monochromatic tones from warm to cool using archival color inks and ICC profiles for Somerset Velvet paper. This was the first inexpensive quad-black system to be released by ConeTech. In 2000, Cone would trademark Piezography as a name brand for a product line of archival black and white inks and software that continues through several generations of product releases, distributed by Cone's InkjetMall.com. From 2002 until 2008, Cone would develop and introduce higher standards of monochromatic ink jet products for Epson printers including PiezoTone (2002), PiezographyBW ICC (2004), Piezography iQuads (2005), Piezography K7 (2006), Piezography MPS (2008).
In 2006, Cone introduced a new concept in ink formulation by developing an ink set for Epson printers that was "color-managed"
Color management
In digital imaging systems, color management is the controlled conversion between the color representations of various devices, such as image scanners, digital cameras, monitors, TV screens, film printers, computer printers, offset presses, and corresponding media.The primary goal of color...
during formulation by matching the color gamut produced by the OEM's printer driver, rather than attempting to imitate single ink positions that would later be controlled by ICC profiles. ConeColor inks are compatible with Epson Ultrachrome ink sets, being designed for use with the OEM driver, OEM workflow and OEM ICC profiles.
Cone moved part time to New York City from 2006 to 2008 to live in residence at the apartment of photographer Gregory Colbert
Gregory Colbert
Gregory Colbert is a Canadian film-maker and photographer best known as the creator of Ashes and Snow, an exhibition of photographic artworks and films housed in the Nomadic Museum.-Career:...
to produce an ambitious print project (both in scale and technology) for Colbert's Ashes and Snow Nomadic Museum. A proprietary system of 11 monochromatic Piezography inks and software was developed by Cone in his East Topsham, Vermont studio and transposed to Roland DG
Roland Corporation
is a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment and software. It was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on April 18, 1972, with ¥33 million in capital. In 2005 Roland's headquarters relocated to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. Today it has factories in Japan,...
AJ-1000 110" printers to produce triple split-tone black&white photographs on enormous 2.4m × 5.7m sheets of Japanese handmade paper produced by Awagami for the Ashes and Snow Nomadic Museum exhibitions in Tokyo and in Mexico City which attracted more than 8.5 million visitors, making it the most attended exhibition by a living artist in history.
Educator
Cone has taught traditional and digital printmaking as a visiting professor at SUNY Purchase, NY, University of Arizona, The Royal College of Art, London, Vermont College of Fine ArtsVermont College of Fine Arts
Vermont College of Fine Arts offers four distinct graduate programs, awarding Master of Fine Arts degrees in Visual Art, Writing, Writing for Children & Young Adults and Graphic Design. The student to faculty ratio at VCFA is 4-to-1.. The faculty and alumni of VCFA have won many literary awards,...
and at Goddard College
Goddard College
Goddard College is a private, liberal arts college located in Plainfield, Vermont, offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Goddard College currently operates on an intensive low-residency model...
.
In 1993, Cone established the Cone Editions Digital Workshops in East Topsham, Vermont as a hands-on approach to teaching digital printmaking. Attendees were introduced to the concepts of a complete digital workflow in practice rather than in theory. Cone introduced his direct ink jet transfer technique at a workshop he taught, organized by Dorothy Krause called "Beyond The Digital Print" at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design to a group which included the five artists who would later become the "Unique Editions"
Tradigital art
Tradigital art most commonly refers to art that combines both traditional and computer-based techniques to implicate an image. It is related to digital art, traditional art, information art, new media art, video art, interactive art, and internet art.-Background:Artist and teacher Judith Moncrieff...
.