This discussion of the various steps in the
photopolymer process is very helpful. To
date, I've had contact with only a
small number of people who work with these plates (other than the
students I'm teaching it to!), and the suggestions here have already
opened up interesting new options.
Susan, you haven't written yet about wiping and printing the plates,
but I did want to mention a few things:
1. You may know this already, but using a sheet magnet while you ink
and wipe the plates makes wiping a breeze. The steel-backed plates
stick to the magnet and stay put as you ink and wipe.
2. The ink I use for these plates has been a mixture of equal parts
Graphic Chemical Bone Black, Stiff Black, and Transparent Base. I've
now started adding a bit of Graphic Chemical Gel (nontoxic) that makes
the ink more gooey and brings out more subtle tonal variations in the
plate. For some images I've made it so gooey I've had to almost pour it
on the plate (for plates I've heavily altered by hand). It's made a big
difference for me.
Others?
Nancy
SusanV wrote:
Jon and Jan,
Thanks for the info about papercutters. I've seen that mentioned, but
I was thinking they were those heavy-duty $$$$ kinds used in
printshops. I'll go dig out my old paper cutter.
Actually, I've gotten better at using the draw knife, finding out that
if I first start cutting from the polymer side of the plate with a
"box cutter" blade, and get through all the gunk there to the metal,
then flip it over and continue cutting from the back with the draw
knife, it works much easier than going all from the back. That's got
to be the longest sentence I've ever written.
Like Rita said earlier... this group is such a treasure. Thanks for
all the help!
susan
www.dalyvoss.com
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