Re: gravure plates under vacuum

[Jon Lybrook <jon@terabear.com>]

It looks great Susan!  I'll have to try that approach and hope others do 
as well.  Anything that simplifies the steps required and keeps baby 
powder out of the vacuum frame sounds good to me.  I was going to burn a 
plate today to see how the various spray mediums on the OHP worked to 
help mitigate the bubbles without introducing blotches.  Maybe I'll save 
myself the expense and trouble...

The next step might be for you to try larger plates to make sure the 
contact remains uniform and the bubbles don't return.  Larger plates 
tend to have more contact issues due to their greater surface area.

One of the advantages of a finer screen is a greater array of apparent 
grey tones.  That, in conjunction with a suitable curve, and a good 
transparency can result in dynamite photo-quality.  But one step at a time.

Congratulations on your success!

Jon



SusanV wrote:
> Hey Jon... yes you got it correct.  Nothin touched the positive.  only
> vacuum pressure held it to the plate.  I just posted a scan of the
> print to my blog.  I'm thrilled with the sharpness and detail.  I
> think for my work, this is going to work out great.
>
> Now if I can just find some more midtones :o)  This particular print
> IS dark and without a lot of greys though, so it's not the best test
> for that.  I have to spend some time next with my printer and get rid
> of those horizontal lines.  It doesn't always do it though, so I think
> I just have to methodically find the right combination of resolution,
> etc.  Also going to run the alignment thing on the pictorico, etc.
>
> and yes... I'm a closet engineer for sure.  and carpenter.  and 
> electrician.
>
> :o)
> susan
>
> updated today... www.susanvossgravures.blogspot.com