Regarding KM73s and polymer photogravure: Keith's method of drying the
transparency for 20-30 minutes on low heat,followed by dusting both it
and the plate with baby powder, the doing 3 minute drawdown prior to
exposing the image prevented the patches from showing up. Tones were
smooth and perfectly gradated. This is not trivial to me. This problem
has plagued me since about 2004. When and how did you decide to dry
your OHP transparencies in a plate drier for that long, Keith? Whatever
the reason, I'm ecstatic!
Likewise, Keith's method of drying the polymer plate for 5-10 minutes
under the heat of a hairdryer after washout and before post-exposure got
rid of the problems I have been having with scratches. I even used
tarlatan that had crusty ink on it from over a year ago, vigorously
scrubbing the plate trying to mar it. It remained tough as nails.
Who'd have thought we'd need to dry ANYTHING in Colorado, but that's
clearly the solution. I stopped using the hair drier after washout when
an instructor in the process told me it was unnecessary. Clearly he was
quite wrong and heat is critical to the curing of the plate and that
post-exposure is only part of it. When I think of all the unnecessary
hours of bulb use I wasted on my Olec unit trying to mitigate the
problem of scratches, I cringe.
Moving ahead, this fills in two serious, long-standing, quality issues
I've had using the KM73s, in spite of all their advantages. So much
advice from so many people it's difficult to know exactly how I wound up
doing what I have been to process plates, but my on-line procedure is
due for a critical overhaul. I'm so excited. I can use tarlatan
again! Smooth tones again without worry! That's not the half of it.
I'll let you know when my procedure has been revised and will ask for
comments and feedback at that time. Keith I'm so very grateful you can
not imagine. Send me your mailing address off-line. I want to send
some goodies your way as a thank you. I wish it could be a case of
KM73s, but after I make my first million dollars making intaglio plates
and prints, expect a delivery of that too!
Thank you all so much for engaging in this discussion.
Best wishes,
Jon