Re: Photogravure question

We are using copper plate photogravure. The failures are not all the same.
One time the carbon tissue was not developed properly, and was impossible to
etch through. That was traced to an old batch of photo emulsion used to
sensitize the carbon tissue (unfortunately, in this class some of the control
of materials are out of my hands). Twice, the plates would only etch to a
point, etching the blacks and midtones, but none of the lighter tones would
etch on anyone's plates.
   My real question though, is if it is possible, with enough controls, to
make copper plate photogravure a relatively consistant printing technique?

J. Reisland

"Baird, Darryl" wrote:

> Jack,
>
> Are you using copper plate or photopolymer plates?
>
> What are calling a failure? ... the image, the printing, the ???
>
> I skipped copper and went to photopolymer right away, the only
> consistent problem was getting even blacks and detailed shadows. I
> couldn't get the ink to "grab" anything and would tend to wipe these
> areas too hard, escpecially if they were large. I learned my film
> positives were too contrasty (too dense in the shadows) and cut back
> my overall density, nothing darker than about an 80% black.
>
> also, it has been nearly five years since I inked a plate, but I still
> have plates, ink, and access to a press... I guess I'm officially
> still in the game.
>
> Describe your "failures," please.
>
> Darryl
>
Received on Sun Nov 2 01:45:33 2003