Re: Photogravure question

Jack,
It is indeed easy to make consistent copper plate photogravures,
but the key to success lies in the word "consistent". In a class situation
where you don't have controls over
your materials and workspace, it is common to run into problems. The fact
that the same problems happen to everyone in the class is evidence of this.
When you speak of "photo emulsion", I'm guessing you are referring to
potassium dichromate. It must be kept at 45 F to stop it from degrading and
filtered each time you use it to remove the gelatin precipitate otherwise it
is hard to achieve any consistency with your carbon tissue.
Drop me an email and I'll try to troubleshoot your problems one by one
without cluttering the list.
zamm@optonline.net

Also, I think that Photogravure should remain a term describing the
historical process. Using photopolymer plates is just another way of doing a
photoengraving, having nothing in common with the original process except
the usage of light and intaglio printmaking. Just my two cents.
Cheers, Craig Zammiello

----- Original Message -----
From: jack reisland <reislandj001@hawaii.rr.com>
To: <alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca>
Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2003 2:45 AM
Subject: 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 08:52:58 2003