Re: Newbie introduction
Hi Jon, thanks for the response. Ever since I've decided to try this process, I've thought about which type light source would be best. Seems to me that a point light source would give sharper definition to each edge of those little "aquatint" dots. I'd bet though, that a "hotter", meaning quicker exposure would give the cleanest edge.... whichever type of light source used. I can't back that up with facts, but I'll not let get in the way of my intuition :o) Bottom line for time of this writing is that I have most of the materials and skills needed to make a fluorescent bank of tubes.... so I think i'll give it a try. If I don't get the kind of resolution I'm expecting...... I'll just do a series of Holga shots, and maybe some hand-held 4 x 5 view cam things ( my husband will pass-out if he reads that), until I can get hold of one of those big spotlight things to tighten up with. In either case, I have a feeling that hanging out here with ya'll ( Judy did you see that?), will get me interested in some other processes that will use the tubes, right? I hope so, anyway! Thank you SO much for the information. Susan Susan Daly Voss www.dalyvoss.com On 1/15/07, Jon Lybrook <jon@terabear.com> wrote: Hi Susan, It could have been operator error, but I tried for many months using a bank of blacklight bulbs which I built from the blueprints Dick Sullivan published in one of his books "The New Platinum Print". It worked fine for platinum/palladium as far as I could tell, however, with polymer plates I had nothing but grief with them. I'm sure others on this list could give you insight regarding proper selection and use of tube lights with poly plates, but I'm not one of them. I seem to recall Takach press was selling simple, 1000 watt genuine Olec lights (with bulb) for $250 or so at one point, but I can't find it on their site now. You can, of course, spend alot of money on an integrated point source and vacuum frame, but there is a reason the pros use them. Of course, I know a certified master printer who still uses clamps, plate glass and the sun using Solarplates to make his plates and gets fantastic results. Definitely more than one way to skin a cat. Best wishes, Jon Susan Voss wrote: > Hey Mark... thanks for the reply and all the information. I do have > the Weldon book, but the Jon Lybrook link was very interesting! The > scary thing though, is that he doesn't use fluorescent tubes... says > they're too diffuse. He uses a point light source. hmmm... I think > I'll go ahead with my plans to build a UV box, because there are > plenty of other processes I could use it for, if I decide I need point > light for the gravure plates. > > The first gravures I saw were by Cy Decosse at John Stevens gallery in > NY. They just took my breath away. I've since learned that he has > his work printed by Keith Taylor, and that they in fact, ARE solar > plates instead of traditional copper plate gravures. If I can get > that level of detail and richness... that's the benchmark for me. > > I sympathize about the expense of a press... as I said, I wanted many > years to finally get one. At least you seem to have access to one, > which is way better than nothing! > Thanks again for all the info!!! > > Susan > > On 1/15/07, D. Mark Andrews <mark@dragonbones.com> wrote: >> Hey Susan, >> >> Good morning from California. I've been playing a bit with solarplate >> and >> thought I would share some information with you. >> >> 1. Solarplate requires positives on transparencies rather than >> negatives. >> Good news for you unless you want to learn to create digital >> negatives for >> other alt processes. I was recently pulling plates with a platinum >> printer >> from this area and we both were taken aback by the results we got from >> scanning inkjet positives on photo paper and outputting them onto cheap >> Office Depot inkjet transparencies. >> >> 2. You can buy good quality ready-made light boxes from Edwards >> Engineering >> or Photographer's Formulary if you don't want to go through the >> hassle of >> building your own. BUT, the printmaker who taught me to make plates >> used an >> old 8x10 facial tanner taped on top of a cardboard box for her UV source >> (1.5 minute exposures). This makes me think that you could use some >> simple >> bulbs with a good amt of UV to expose, but I haven't tried it. >> Non-photographer printmakers in my area use the sun as a source, >> roughly 20 >> minute exposures. >> >> 3. Dan Weldon who invented solarplates has a good book on the subject: >> Weldon, Dan. _Printmaking in the Sun_ >> >> 4. A couple of online sources: >> >> http://www.lytescapes.com/procedures/polymer_photogravure.html >> >> http://www.alternativephotography.com/process_photo_intaglio.html >> >> 5. Exposing the plates is very simple. Short exposures and rinse in >> water. >> Then harden the plate under a UV source for 10 minutes or so ( I toss >> mine >> on the window sill and have a beer). The plates ink up easily. As a >> newbie I >> went from positive in hand to pulled print in about 30 minutes >> (including >> scanning the positive and outputting it on cheap transparency film). >> >> I envy you already owning an etching press. I can't believe how >> expensive >> they are. I told myself that I would just dip into my son's college >> fund to >> pay for it, but realized he would have to get through college in 3 >> years if >> I did :-) >> >> Mark >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Susan Voss [mailto:altfoto@gmail.com] >> Sent: Monday, January 15, 2007 7:07 AM >> To: alt-photo-process-l >> Subject: Newbie introduction >> >> >> Hi all, >> >> I was here a year or so ago, but had to withdraw for awhile. I'm back >> now and will be working toward a set-up for making polymer >> photogravures from digital negs. >> >> I'm primarily a painter and printmaker, but grew up with a Dad who had >> a darkroom, so making my own photographs has always seemed a very >> natural thing. My husband shoots large format, b&w, and we have a >> small but nice darkroom off my painting and printmaking studio. I >> really do have a perfect setup for photogravures ( i have an intaglio >> press), but I have to learn to make digital negs (I have an Epson >> 1280), build a UV box (i have a table saw and I know how to use it), >> and expose the plates ( i have some books about that). Sounds simple. >> HA!!! >> >> Looking forward to the journey, and hope to eventually be able to >> contribute something more than questions ;) >> >> susan >> Susan Daly Voss >> www.dalyvoss.com >> >> > >
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