10th October
Preparing the image for transfer to lino - unlike photo etching you don't need to have a negative image. What is black on the photocopy will be black on the lino and not be etched.
Using a photograph I've taken of wire cutters, manipulated on photoshop for enhancement of contrast, printed as grey scale, photocopied for photocopy litho transfer to lino.
This method works with acid etch of zinc plates, as the oil based ink is acid resist. I'm not sure it will work with lino so I'm doing some test plates.
Soak the photocopy image for a couple of minutes. Place on worktop and dab oil based ink, mixed with plate oil on with a sponge. Experience has told me you don't need to dab very much - just so a surface of ink shows, and so that the sponge marks are retained. The black of the photocopy ink absorbs the oil ink mixture, the white paper has a film of water on it and therefore repels the ink. So, what is black on the photocopy picks up the ink, ready for transfer, using the press, onto my lino sheet.
I did this 3 times to get my test plates.
Caustic Soda - (made at home, in the garden, next to the garden hose in case it all went horribly wrong and I had to be hosed down. I donned protective clothing, mask, goggles, rubber gloves - no chances taken. I also didn't want to do it in the studio as I wasn't sure what the results would be and how I might effect my fellow students!)
Recipe: Jam jar filled one third with water
2 teaspoons wallpaper glue flakes. Stir with wooden implement (chopsticks in my case) and leave to thicken for 5 mins.
2 teaspoons of caustic soda crystals. Stir. Leave to heat up.
Paint onto lino with brush.
Two images used the oil based ink as acid resist. The third image I painted and sponged over the image with stop out. First image was painted with acid mix leaving on for 20 minute increments up to one hour. Second and third image acid was left on for 20 mins.
Results: the ink didn't resist the acid at all. The stop out hardly resisted the acid either - so clearly need a stronger stop out and possibly weaker acid. The lino in all cases seemed bitten through far too much. However, I will still be printing them to see what the effects are.
Preparing the image for transfer to lino - unlike photo etching you don't need to have a negative image. What is black on the photocopy will be black on the lino and not be etched.
Using a photograph I've taken of wire cutters, manipulated on photoshop for enhancement of contrast, printed as grey scale, photocopied for photocopy litho transfer to lino.
 |
| B&W photo used for transfer |
Soak the photocopy image for a couple of minutes. Place on worktop and dab oil based ink, mixed with plate oil on with a sponge. Experience has told me you don't need to dab very much - just so a surface of ink shows, and so that the sponge marks are retained. The black of the photocopy ink absorbs the oil ink mixture, the white paper has a film of water on it and therefore repels the ink. So, what is black on the photocopy picks up the ink, ready for transfer, using the press, onto my lino sheet.
I did this 3 times to get my test plates.
Caustic Soda - (made at home, in the garden, next to the garden hose in case it all went horribly wrong and I had to be hosed down. I donned protective clothing, mask, goggles, rubber gloves - no chances taken. I also didn't want to do it in the studio as I wasn't sure what the results would be and how I might effect my fellow students!)
Recipe: Jam jar filled one third with water
2 teaspoons wallpaper glue flakes. Stir with wooden implement (chopsticks in my case) and leave to thicken for 5 mins.
2 teaspoons of caustic soda crystals. Stir. Leave to heat up.
Paint onto lino with brush.
 |
| Litho transfer to lino |
 |
| first 20 mins of acid |
 |
| acid painted on in one go |
 |
| lino where image was painted using stop out |
 |
| three plates acid washed off |
Results: the ink didn't resist the acid at all. The stop out hardly resisted the acid either - so clearly need a stronger stop out and possibly weaker acid. The lino in all cases seemed bitten through far too much. However, I will still be printing them to see what the effects are.
