Oh my!! Thank you so much for sharing this video! Back in college I used to be a fan of the drypoint technique, and for several years I stopped making intaglio prints because the lack of pressing machine (it's really hard to find a small sized press in where I live), and I thought intaglios can't be done without press. But because of your video, guess I could start again to reliving the printing pleasure :) Again, thank you!
Hello Tri Asrie Khalidya - yes, you can print intaglio without a press! It is a lot of time and work, so start small! I hope you have great success with it, and you re-awaken your joy in all the different methods of intaglio printmaking.
Thanks for this Belinda. I’ve been experimenting with print-making, but not ready to buy a press. I’ve used a barren for block prints, but it looks like a spoon is best for dry point. Thanks for the tips! 🎉
Hi there Ed! Yes, a spoon works, but it’s still a little tricky depending on your ability to hold the paper in place, whether it’s dampened, how much stretch it has, etc. if you’re interested in a great press hack using small stenciling and embossing craft machines to print (beautifully), check out Colin Blanchard’s fb group Craft Press Printmakers. Using a tiny stenciling machine with a long cutting board can produce full editions: m.facebook.com/groups/1544918272204523/?
Glad this video came to me in my searches; I didn't think to add MagMix to my ink. Now, I should be able to print great prints. I am using the Akua pin press and also have a hand brayer. Thanks!
Hi Scott, I’m so glad you found the demonstration helpful! I use MagMix all the time, and I wish more printmakers knew about it for adjusting thickness and viscosity in their Akua inks! Happy printing to you!
Hi Shannon, I'm glad it fits the search, and I hope it works for you. Keep your design simple and small to start, till you get the hang of it! Good luck and happy printing!
I never realised you could print intaglio with a spoon...my teacher only advised it for relief but you have shown me you can. That's really welcome since I don't own a press...Thanks!
Hi anonme - Yes, you can print intaglio with a spoon. It's more challenging that a relief print, for sure, and you have to keep the paper in contact with the plate - no moving even a teeny bit - or your line work will be "fuzzy". Give it a try, and let us know how it works for you!
hey belinda - thanks for the tips..I'll give it a try but it won't be until spring since the room I do my printmaking in is connected to the outside and it's still a bit too cold at the moment..thanks again
Hey anonme - no printmaking outdoors till summertime. Cold hands and shivering knees will make your creative inspiration too brittle. :) I look forward to seeing what the sunshine and warm weather brings in your work space.
Eight months ago I made a very good drypoint print without a press following your very clear advice. Now I'm interested in buiklding my own press. Pinterest shows very cheap presses made with car hydraulic jacks. For a A4 print paper the crafman uses a 6 ton hydraulic jack. Unfortunately nobody comments if this very cheap press can be used for drypoint. Have you heard any comments on these hydraukic jack presses? I thought that maybe some of your students have tried them. Thank you again. Hector
Hi Hector, First, thanks for the feedback that this method of hand-transfer for a drypoint worked for you. Second, I've seen homemade jack presses used for relief prints (woodblocks, linocuts, etc.), but not intaglio prints. That doesn't mean they can't be used for a drypoint, but I bet if you wrote directly to some of the printmakers who've made and used jack presses, you'll get your answer. In general, I believe presses that have a wide platen, or broad area that presses upon the print are best for wide areas of surface ink. The pressure is distributed across the width and breadth of that surface. With an etching press, the cylindrical roller's contact with the paper is perhaps less than a centimeter wide along the length of the drum, so all that pressure is much more concentrated upon that tiny strip as it rolls over the paper and plate underneath it. That's why a metal spoon works better than a baren for drypoint; all your pressure is concentrated in a smaller contact point. Does that make sense? I wish I could sketch it out to explain it better....
It should, but it may require some experiments... I suspect you'll do best with very simple line work. The smaller size of the aluminum can should help keep the paper and plate from shifting while rubbing the surfaces together. I hope you try it and report back for anyone else wondering the same thing.
Hi Belinda. Can this technique also be used with a metal etching? I have the prepared metal that I made years ago in college, and want to make a print, but I do not have access to a printing press. Thank you very much for sharing this information!
Yes you can! It will be very important that your paper does not move at all during the transfer/rubbing portion, to avoid a stuttered image, so test a small section of your plate first, but inking and wiping just a part of the image.Good luck!
Hi Jennifer, I wouldn't recommend india ink or caligraphy ink for two reasons: The viscosity of the inks are too thin, they dry too fast, and once they dry in the deeper crevices of your drypoint linework, you may not be able to get it out, even with a good scrub, which would permanently fill your heard-earned incised details. Intaglio printmaking ink would be your best chance for success with this process.
You have opened up a whole new world to me and I thank you. I was only here researching drafting film to aid in planned composition which are very large. I always did want to play with inks and research dry point. I didn't know today was the day. I have ceramic grade M Carbonate, acrylic sheets and stacks and stacks of arches TextWove. Will these work well? I will have to order the inks and etching tool.
Hi Don, I'm not familiar with Arches TextWove, and I'm not sure what the grit size/granularity of ceramic-grade Magnesium Carbonate is, and that will affect your print, so start small (maybe a 5x7 inch plate) and experiment with variables. Let us know how it turns out! Happy printing!
Hi Cliff, I’ve never done electro aluminum etching - but I have used an electric engraver (a Dremel) on a sheet of plexiglass for an intaglio print and it worked beautifully! Are you planning to try it?
Hi , Belinda I am trying to print from engraved or etched image on plexiglass plate to plastic or polymer paper .and I would like to know if there is permanent intaglio ink used for printing on plastic or polymer paper ?and Around how much intaglio press rollers pressure is needed to do this job ? the engraved image is fine lines and details made by laser engraver machine . Thank you
Hi Yasin, I've never printed intaglio style on a sheet of polymer paper, so I can't direct you. I can *guess* that it will be challenging, since the process for intaglio prints requires pushing the paper with enough pressure to cause it to stretch and dip into the incised line work of the plate, to collect the ink embedded there. If your plastic or polymer paper has no stretch or flexibility, I'm not sure it'll get to the ink. Also, most contemporary intaglio printmaking inks dry from a certain amount of absorption into the pulp of cotton paper. Polymer has no pores or weave to sink into for the drying process. Have you considered silk screen, or relief printing for this project?
Silvana Echegaray - yes, I soaked and blotted the paper before printing the drypoint. You can see my soaking set up here: ruclips.net/video/ViihrZhdxCs/видео.html
Hello Mariceliz - The plexiglass that has not been used yet usually comes with a protective paper adhered to both sides, so I stack the sheets upright against a wall inside a closet. Once the plates are beveled and incised with linework, I make an wrapper by folding a sheet of clean newsprint paper around each plate - like a present. Most of my plates are small, so each wrapped plate goes into another envelope with all the sketches, artist proofs and the printed edition. Each envelope is labeled with the title, edition size, number of artist proofs, date of printing and whether the entire edition has been printed. All the envelopes holding plates with their corresponding prints are in a set of baskets alphabetically by title of the work. Does that make sense?
I am leaving painting to go back into printmaking. Exciting transition. I want to get back to my drawing, creating transparent layers, and using transparent color. I love your instruction is clear and the supply list is so helpful. Your Etsy shop is a wonderful example of your talents. I am not able to find Tarlatan at all. I have found Aqua Wiping Material on Amazon - do you use this? Is Strathmore lighter printmaking paper ok to begin practicing techniques? What paper to use for test pulls? Thanks!
Hi Sheila, Thanks for your comments, I'm glad you like what you're finding here. I do use Akua tarlatan, when I'm using Akua inks, but I also use stiffer, traditional tarlatan, and I buy it from Takach: shop.takachpress.com/category-s/1886.htm Yes, Strathmore lighter printmaking paper is good, and you can pull test prints on that, or on newsprint. My favorite for editioning prints, especially if I want the option of adding watercolor to the print, and I'm printing on a press, is Arches Cover paper. Great luck to you, and keep us posted!
I'm so happy i found this video! i am taking a course in etching at university where we have a print, but i am excited to now be able to print at home without a press too. I am using copper plates instead of plexiglass, but that shouldnt make too much of a difference? thank you!
Hi +Sofia E - thanks for visiting, and best of luck in your printmaking endeavors! Copper is a little softer, so you'll have to be careful not to mash the burr on either side of your incised lines when rubbing the paper. Experiment. It's a wonderful medium, and I hope your course inspires a life-long love of printmaking.
Magnesium carbonate! Finally the name of the substance you can use to make a paste of to make ink to stay in the grooves! I actually bought a bottle of thickener to make intaglio ink but it didn't say on it what was in it so my hopes on that front were confounded... Confounded no more!
Hi +Sherry Newington - Yes, that's what I'm using in the video... Akua inks clean up with water. But they do need to be stiffened with MagMix. Which Inks are you using?
+Belinda Del Pesco I have used oil based inks but the speed ball water soluble inks are easy to clean up and more readily available at michaels. I will have to try oil based for this.
+Sherry Newington I agree - if your only options are oil based inks, or Speedball relief ink (water based), I'd recommend the oil based ink for a dry point. And you can clean oil based inks very effectively with vegetable oil, then baby wipes, followed by soap & water.
Hello Pensil, each brand and weight of paper is different. I use/enjoy BFK Rives printmaking paper, which I tear down to size, and run under a cold faucet just long enough to drench both sides of the paper. Then I lay the sheets next to each other - no overlap - on a cotton, lint free towel and blot them lightly. They’re ready to print when they’re lightly damp - on the way to dry. I’ve printed Drypoint with watercolor, acrylic and printmaking ink, but never oil paint, so I can’t weigh in on that one. I will say that of the three that I tried, the printmaking ink made a world of difference on the success of the Drypoint transfer. Highly recommend ink.
Is there any print making technique that is not suitable for a press-free method? Sorry if it is too basic a question. I am really new into print making BUT I would like to explore it so much! I am particularly fascinated by the fact that so much of what I thought can be done only with a press can actually be achieved at home without a press!!!
Hi Deen, Thanks for your question, and welcome to printmaking! It's true that many printmaking methods *can* be accomplished without a press. They take a lot more time, careful application of pressure, and complete control to keep the paper against the plate with no moving/wiggle or stretch, so it's a bit more challenging. But it's do-able. The only printmaking I wouldn't recommend trying without a press is mezzotint, intaglio (etching and drypoint) with a lot of halftone (simple linework transfers better by hand), silk aquatint (again, because of all the subtle gradations and half tones), and very high/shallow collagraph plates; when texture paste or thick and thin objects have been adhered to the plate making a topography with too many hills and valleys to keep the paper in place without a press. Other than that, the world is your oyster. :)
👍 Thanks so much Belinda, I have been struggling all afternoon, and will now have a plan for tomorrow! I only have the regular tarlatan, could I use regular cheesecloth instead?
Hi Jan, you can use the regular tarlatan. After rolling it, tap it flat so it removes ink from the upper, flat surface of the plate, and it doesn’t sneak down into your recessed line work to pull up your “stay in the lines till I press you to paper” ink. Which part of the process have you been struggling with?
Jan - that’s a very common problem. Keep the tarlatan away from your wide recesses and use a flat sheet of newsprint to “buff” the curbs on either side of the inky valleys.
Hello Pensil Mekanik - it is not glass - it is plastic. Clear perspex, or lexan, or acrylite, or acrylic.... many names for it. The thickness is 2.48 mm.
Hi downtime - some inks out there will re-wet, but if you’re using Akua relief or intaglio ink, and they’ve dried thoroughly, you can paint away on them with watercolor! Colored pencil on top afterwards works beautifully for a little punch of added lights or darks too.
Hello Hector, I'm glad the hand transfer from drypoint worked for you. It's very exciting, isnt it!? I don't recommend thicker paper for hand-transfer of intaglio prints, because the thin paper is more flexible, and it "dips" down into your incised trenches to collect the ink. Thicker paper is stiffer, and bulkier, so it needs the pressure of a press to force the fibers to bend into the engraved troughs to get to the ink. Keep going! Happy printing!
Hi +Mags Phelan - Thanks for the feedback. If you're going to hand-transfer a drypoint, thinner, more flexible paper is better, so your spoon can push/dip the paper into those tiny incised lines to touch the ink. I like BFK Rives and Arches printmaking paper (lightweight - 115 gsm), as well as Mulberry. If you plan to add other media (watercolor, etc.) use the BFK or Arches, and if you plan to leave the print as is, you can try the Mulberry. (P.S. All supplies in each video are listed with links in the show more section under the video window.)
Hi Harpaint - I think if you start with a very small - 4x6 or 5x7 and *simple* line drawing to test, you can do it. The challenging part will be keeping the "plate" - your drafting film - against the paper at all times with no movement so it doesn't print in a skipped-line from wiggling around on the paper. Good luck!
+Belinda Del Pesco Thanks a lot, Belinda. Just one more question, is there any other intaglio ink you recommend besides Akua? I would like to try this out but order the ink and the MagMix is kind of expensive, so I was wondering what might be a good alternative. Thanks again :)
Hi +MissNausicaa87 - you could start with just a little 2 oz akua black ink: amzn.to/1pFYYKS and the mag mix, or - use oil-based inks, like charbonnel black: amzn.to/1yKoU5S - and skip the mag mix, but know you should ventilate the room, and oil-based will require a different clean up (see this video on that: ruclips.net/video/T4qZlxkqfts/видео.html - the clean up starts at 4:44 mark) You could also try the Charbonnel water-clean up etching ink: amzn.to/1P7FIuf I've never tried it, but you can clean it up with water. Good luck! Keep us posted on your progress!
+Belinda Del Pesco Cool! I didn't know Charbonnel had water-clean up inks, the only ones I new were the Caligo Inks. Will try it out, thanks Belinda ;)
Hi Lily, I have never seen anyone print an etching (or any sort of intaglio print) on cloth. You might have luck asking that question in some t-shirt print groups on facebook, or try searching for appropriate keywords in google search. Good luck to you!
Hi , belinda Can the fine details and lines image , etched or engraved on aplexiglass by laser machine to be printed by using etching press .? Thank you goerge
Hi Yasin, Yes, they can. You'll still need to use the right inks, and appropriate paper, but a recessed line is a recessed line, whether carved into the plexiglass by hand or by a machine. Be aware that fumes from hot plexiglass are poisonous, and efforts to be safe should be a priority. There are more details on that here: ruclips.net/video/Fg9Y8uRX17c/видео.html
HI +mrbaschie - I've never tried it so I can only guess. The paper is nice and thin, so it might "flex" enough to dip into the delicate line work and pull ink, but is it tough enough to withstand all the rubbing? Test a piece and let us all know!
Hi Joseph, Medium to firm pressure on your spoon/baren, and and as you rub, you'll start to see the image emerge on the back of the paper - the fibers are being pushed into your incised line work, so it appears embossed. When you've rubbed the entire drypoint, hold the paper steady with an open palm, and peek under a corner to see if your ink is transferring to the paper. If it's not dark enough, keep rubbing. How long depends on the size of your plate, the level of detail on your engraving work, the paper you select, the ink you used, the tool being rubbed, and the steadiness of the hand holding it. Start small, and with a relatively simple drypoint to get the feel for it. Happy printing!
Hello Belinda, I was wondering if you have had any experience writing text on plexiglass? I am making an artist book at the moment and would like to print my text as a positive image (dark ink text on cream paper). My teacher suggested that drypoint would not be the best choice for small text. Any thoughts?
Hi +Carla M - you have lots of options, and your challenge will be laying all the text out in reverse so it reads face-forward and left to right. If you're comfortable writing in reverse, then yes, you can scratch text into a plate and print. You can also adhere reverse paper or vinyl letters, and ink & wipe them intaglio style. The ink caught in the curbs of the glued lettering should print fine. Good luck with it! :)
Thanks Belinda! I opted for etching the lettering in reverse. I used a biro pen and scratched into a laminated cardboard - quite a lengthy and arduous process! However, I'm very happy with my results :-) Thank you again for your expertise in this field. I really appreciate all your process videos. Cheers! Carla
Hi +Carla M - I'm so glad to hear that you got the results you were looking for, though I can just imagine how long it took to etch the lettering, in reverse, with a pen (!), on laminated cardboard. AMBITIOUS! Hats off to you for researching till you found what worked!
Hi, Belinda Thank you very much for you tube ./fq9y8urx17c it is very helpful , but i still need to know if it is possible to print the engraved or etched fine lines and details image on plastic or polymer paper and What kind of ink should be used and around how much pressure is needed ? Thank you
Hi Yasin, Are you printing *from* a plastic or polymer plate, or are you trying to print *on* a plastic or polymer plate, using it in place of paper? What have you tried so far?
I was told you always needed a press to print a drypoint on plexiglass. I'm so happy I found this video. Thanks!!! I will try it at home right now!!!
Hi Nancy! Yes, you can print a drypoint without a press. Start small and simple!.. :) Happy printing!
Hi Belinda, love your work ❤thank you for all of your informative inspirational Art videos ❤
Oh my!! Thank you so much for sharing this video! Back in college I used to be a fan of the drypoint technique, and for several years I stopped making intaglio prints because the lack of pressing machine (it's really hard to find a small sized press in where I live), and I thought intaglios can't be done without press. But because of your video, guess I could start again to reliving the printing pleasure :)
Again, thank you!
Hello Tri Asrie Khalidya - yes, you can print intaglio without a press! It is a lot of time and work, so start small! I hope you have great success with it, and you re-awaken your joy in all the different methods of intaglio printmaking.
Thanks for this Belinda. I’ve been experimenting with print-making, but not ready to buy a press. I’ve used a barren for block prints, but it looks like a spoon is best for dry point. Thanks for the tips! 🎉
Hi there Ed! Yes, a spoon works, but it’s still a little tricky depending on your ability to hold the paper in place, whether it’s dampened, how much stretch it has, etc. if you’re interested in a great press hack using small stenciling and embossing craft machines to print (beautifully), check out Colin Blanchard’s fb group Craft Press Printmakers. Using a tiny stenciling machine with a long cutting board can produce full editions: m.facebook.com/groups/1544918272204523/?
Thanks so much for your generosity in sharing these techniques.
Thanks for the visit, Km - I'm glad you found the video useful!
Glad this video came to me in my searches; I didn't think to add MagMix to my ink. Now, I should be able to print great prints. I am using the Akua pin press and also have a hand brayer. Thanks!
Hi Scott, I’m so glad you found the demonstration helpful! I use MagMix all the time, and I wish more printmakers knew about it for adjusting thickness and viscosity in their Akua inks! Happy printing to you!
Your videos are always so helpful. As a beginning print-maker, It really encourages me to continue. Thanks so much, Belinda.
Hi again +noapology88 - thanks for the feedback! I'm so glad you find them helpful. :)
Another great video demo of this printmaking technique. Thank you!
Thanks, B Anness ! :)
This is exactly what I was looking for thank you so so much!!!
Hi Shannon, I'm glad it fits the search, and I hope it works for you. Keep your design simple and small to start, till you get the hang of it! Good luck and happy printing!
I never realised you could print intaglio with a spoon...my teacher only advised it for relief but you have shown me you can. That's really welcome since I don't own a press...Thanks!
Hi anonme - Yes, you can print intaglio with a spoon. It's more challenging that a relief print, for sure, and you have to keep the paper in contact with the plate - no moving even a teeny bit - or your line work will be "fuzzy". Give it a try, and let us know how it works for you!
hey belinda - thanks for the tips..I'll give it a try but it won't be until spring since the room I do my printmaking in is connected to the outside and it's still a bit too cold at the moment..thanks again
Hey anonme - no printmaking outdoors till summertime. Cold hands and shivering knees will make your creative inspiration too brittle. :) I look forward to seeing what the sunshine and warm weather brings in your work space.
Once again, a great demo, Belinda. I'd never considered doing a drypoint without a press (just figured there wouldn't be enough pressure).
I hope this means you'll be giving it a go in your studio soon. :) I always look forward to seeing your new work.
This is perfect, thank you for making this!!
Thank you for the feedback!
Your art work is amazing!
Thank you, +Sarah sarah ! :)
Incredible work!
Thanks, +Farp St !!! :)
Always fascinating stuff. Great effect for an image transfer. Terrific music selection!
Thanks, William McCoy - I appreciate your encouragement. And I'm glad you liked the music. :)
Thank you for this video! I am inspired.
Hi Kathy! I'm so glad you feel inspired, and I hope you have fun playing with your printmaking supplies! Thanks for your feedback.
Wow, that’s great!
Thanks, Joe!
Excellent! THANK YOU!!
You’re very welcome! Have fun printing!
Eight months ago I made a very good drypoint print without a press following your very clear advice. Now I'm interested in buiklding my own press. Pinterest shows very cheap presses made with car hydraulic jacks. For a A4 print paper the crafman uses a 6 ton hydraulic jack. Unfortunately nobody comments if this very cheap press can be used for drypoint. Have you heard any comments on these hydraukic jack presses? I thought that maybe some of your students have tried them. Thank you again.
Hector
Hi Hector, First, thanks for the feedback that this method of hand-transfer for a drypoint worked for you. Second, I've seen homemade jack presses used for relief prints (woodblocks, linocuts, etc.), but not intaglio prints. That doesn't mean they can't be used for a drypoint, but I bet if you wrote directly to some of the printmakers who've made and used jack presses, you'll get your answer.
In general, I believe presses that have a wide platen, or broad area that presses upon the print are best for wide areas of surface ink. The pressure is distributed across the width and breadth of that surface.
With an etching press, the cylindrical roller's contact with the paper is perhaps less than a centimeter wide along the length of the drum, so all that pressure is much more concentrated upon that tiny strip as it rolls over the paper and plate underneath it. That's why a metal spoon works better than a baren for drypoint; all your pressure is concentrated in a smaller contact point. Does that make sense? I wish I could sketch it out to explain it better....
Thank you so much, this was very helpful!
Hi Kirby, Thanks for the feedback - I'm really glad this was useful for you. Come back with questions any time. :)
Great 👍 job
Thank you! Cheers!
So beautiful!
Thanks, Siolo. :)
Hello Ms Belinda! Thank you for sharing the spoon method. Would this work on drypoints made with aluminum cans?
It should, but it may require some experiments... I suspect you'll do best with very simple line work. The smaller size of the aluminum can should help keep the paper and plate from shifting while rubbing the surfaces together. I hope you try it and report back for anyone else wondering the same thing.
Great advice!
Thanks, Korgi!
thank you that was exactly the information i was looking for (:
I'm so glad it was helpful! Be sure to come back and post your questions if they come up during your printmaking adventures.
Thank you!
You're welcome! :)
Brilliant! Great videos..most useful and much appreciated :-)
druvcole thanks for the feedback! I'm glad the videos are useful!
Though am not familiar with the materials especially inks but I think nobody can teach like Belinda.
Hi Belinda. Can this technique also be used with a metal etching? I have the prepared metal that I made years ago in college, and want to make a print, but I do not have access to a printing press. Thank you very much for sharing this information!
Yes you can! It will be very important that your paper does not move at all during the transfer/rubbing portion, to avoid a stuttered image, so test a small section of your plate first, but inking and wiping just a part of the image.Good luck!
Can you use India ink or calligraphy ink in this process?
Hi Jennifer, I wouldn't recommend india ink or caligraphy ink for two reasons: The viscosity of the inks are too thin, they dry too fast, and once they dry in the deeper crevices of your drypoint linework, you may not be able to get it out, even with a good scrub, which would permanently fill your heard-earned incised details. Intaglio printmaking ink would be your best chance for success with this process.
Very cool
Thanks, Francesco.
You have opened up a whole new world to me and I thank you. I was only here researching drafting film to aid in planned composition which are very large. I always did want to play with inks and research dry point. I didn't know today was the day. I have ceramic grade M Carbonate, acrylic sheets and stacks and stacks of arches TextWove. Will these work well? I will have to order the inks and etching tool.
Hi Don, I'm not familiar with Arches TextWove, and I'm not sure what the grit size/granularity of ceramic-grade Magnesium Carbonate is, and that will affect your print, so start small (maybe a 5x7 inch plate) and experiment with variables. Let us know how it turns out! Happy printing!
Thank you!!! Genial!
You are welcome! 🤓
great!!... did you soak the paper beforehand??
thanks have you ever done electro aluminum etching on an aluminum plate? apparently it's fairly easy.
Hi Cliff,
I’ve never done electro aluminum etching - but I have used an electric engraver (a Dremel) on a sheet of plexiglass for an intaglio print and it worked beautifully! Are you planning to try it?
Hi , Belinda
I am trying to print from engraved or etched image on plexiglass plate to plastic or polymer paper .and
I would like to know if there is permanent intaglio ink used for printing on plastic or polymer paper ?and
Around how much intaglio press rollers pressure is needed to do this job ? the engraved image is fine lines and details made by laser engraver machine .
Thank you
Hi Yasin, I've never printed intaglio style on a sheet of polymer paper, so I can't direct you. I can *guess* that it will be challenging, since the process for intaglio prints requires pushing the paper with enough pressure to cause it to stretch and dip into the incised line work of the plate, to collect the ink embedded there. If your plastic or polymer paper has no stretch or flexibility, I'm not sure it'll get to the ink. Also, most contemporary intaglio printmaking inks dry from a certain amount of absorption into the pulp of cotton paper. Polymer has no pores or weave to sink into for the drying process. Have you considered silk screen, or relief printing for this project?
Silvana Echegaray - yes, I soaked and blotted the paper before printing the drypoint. You can see my soaking set up here: ruclips.net/video/ViihrZhdxCs/видео.html
Hello! I would like to know how to store plexiglass plates when not in use. If you have any advice, I would greatly appreciate it. Love your videos!
Hello Mariceliz - The plexiglass that has not been used yet usually comes with a protective paper adhered to both sides, so I stack the sheets upright against a wall inside a closet. Once the plates are beveled and incised with linework, I make an wrapper by folding a sheet of clean newsprint paper around each plate - like a present. Most of my plates are small, so each wrapped plate goes into another envelope with all the sketches, artist proofs and the printed edition. Each envelope is labeled with the title, edition size, number of artist proofs, date of printing and whether the entire edition has been printed. All the envelopes holding plates with their corresponding prints are in a set of baskets alphabetically by title of the work. Does that make sense?
Belinda Del Pesco Yes! Thank you so much ;)
I am leaving painting to go back into printmaking. Exciting transition. I want to get back to my drawing, creating transparent layers, and using transparent color. I love your instruction is clear and the supply list is so helpful. Your Etsy shop is a wonderful example of your talents. I am not able to find Tarlatan at all. I have found Aqua Wiping Material on Amazon - do you use this? Is Strathmore lighter printmaking paper ok to begin practicing techniques? What paper to use for test pulls? Thanks!
Hi Sheila, Thanks for your comments, I'm glad you like what you're finding here. I do use Akua tarlatan, when I'm using Akua inks, but I also use stiffer, traditional tarlatan, and I buy it from Takach: shop.takachpress.com/category-s/1886.htm Yes, Strathmore lighter printmaking paper is good, and you can pull test prints on that, or on newsprint. My favorite for editioning prints, especially if I want the option of adding watercolor to the print, and I'm printing on a press, is Arches Cover paper. Great luck to you, and keep us posted!
I'm so happy i found this video! i am taking a course in etching at university where we have a print, but i am excited to now be able to print at home without a press too. I am using copper plates instead of plexiglass, but that shouldnt make too much of a difference? thank you!
Hi +Sofia E - thanks for visiting, and best of luck in your printmaking endeavors! Copper is a little softer, so you'll have to be careful not to mash the burr on either side of your incised lines when rubbing the paper. Experiment. It's a wonderful medium, and I hope your course inspires a life-long love of printmaking.
Thank you
Very helpful
You're welcome! Let me know if you have any other questions. :)
Magnesium carbonate! Finally the name of the substance you can use to make a paste of to make ink to stay in the grooves! I actually bought a bottle of thickener to make intaglio ink but it didn't say on it what was in it so my hopes on that front were confounded... Confounded no more!
Would water soluble inks work for this as well?
Hi +Sherry Newington - Yes, that's what I'm using in the video... Akua inks clean up with water. But they do need to be stiffened with MagMix. Which Inks are you using?
+Belinda Del Pesco I have used oil based inks but the speed ball water soluble inks are easy to clean up and more readily available at michaels. I will have to try oil based for this.
+Sherry Newington I agree - if your only options are oil based inks, or Speedball relief ink (water based), I'd recommend the oil based ink for a dry point. And you can clean oil based inks very effectively with vegetable oil, then baby wipes, followed by soap & water.
+Belinda Del Pesco thanks for all your help!
how wet the paper is for drypoint, and can i use oil paint for the alternative ?
Hello Pensil, each brand and weight of paper is different. I use/enjoy BFK Rives printmaking paper, which I tear down to size, and run under a cold faucet just long enough to drench both sides of the paper. Then I lay the sheets next to each other - no overlap - on a cotton, lint free towel and blot them lightly. They’re ready to print when they’re lightly damp - on the way to dry. I’ve printed Drypoint with watercolor, acrylic and printmaking ink, but never oil paint, so I can’t weigh in on that one. I will say that of the three that I tried, the printmaking ink made a world of difference on the success of the Drypoint transfer. Highly recommend ink.
@@bdelpesco wow your explanation is very helpful, thank you for responding
Happy printing to you!
Is there any print making technique that is not suitable for a press-free method? Sorry if it is too basic a question. I am really new into print making BUT I would like to explore it so much! I am particularly fascinated by the fact that so much of what I thought can be done only with a press can actually be achieved at home without a press!!!
Hi Deen, Thanks for your question, and welcome to printmaking! It's true that many printmaking methods *can* be accomplished without a press. They take a lot more time, careful application of pressure, and complete control to keep the paper against the plate with no moving/wiggle or stretch, so it's a bit more challenging. But it's do-able.
The only printmaking I wouldn't recommend trying without a press is mezzotint, intaglio (etching and drypoint) with a lot of halftone (simple linework transfers better by hand), silk aquatint (again, because of all the subtle gradations and half tones), and very high/shallow collagraph plates; when texture paste or thick and thin objects have been adhered to the plate making a topography with too many hills and valleys to keep the paper in place without a press.
Other than that, the world is your oyster. :)
Thank you so much for the detailed explanation. Looks like there is a LOT I can do without a press!
👍 Thanks so much Belinda, I have been struggling all afternoon, and will now have a plan for tomorrow! I only have the regular tarlatan, could I use regular cheesecloth instead?
Hi Jan, you can use the regular tarlatan. After rolling it, tap it flat so it removes ink from the upper, flat surface of the plate, and it doesn’t sneak down into your recessed line work to pull up your “stay in the lines till I press you to paper” ink. Which part of the process have you been struggling with?
I have been struggling to retain the ink evenly in my wider lines, but I think this should help thanks , will let you know!
Jan - that’s a very common problem. Keep the tarlatan away from your wide recesses and use a flat sheet of newsprint to “buff” the curbs on either side of the inky valleys.
how thick the glass in mm ??
Hello Pensil Mekanik - it is not glass - it is plastic. Clear perspex, or lexan, or acrylite, or acrylic.... many names for it. The thickness is 2.48 mm.
@@bdelpesco ooo i see, thank you for responding
Is there anything to be careful of when applying watercolor over the Akua? Do you have to worry about the water blurring the lines?
Hi downtime - some inks out there will re-wet, but if you’re using Akua relief or intaglio ink, and they’ve dried thoroughly, you can paint away on them with watercolor! Colored pencil on top afterwards works beautifully for a little punch of added lights or darks too.
Thanks! I got an Akua starter kit and am eager to see what I can do with it.
Thank you belinda, my name is Hector. I did a print using Watercolor "Arches paper 185 gm. and is good!!!.Will be better to use a 290 gm. paper?
Hello Hector, I'm glad the hand transfer from drypoint worked for you. It's very exciting, isnt it!? I don't recommend thicker paper for hand-transfer of intaglio prints, because the thin paper is more flexible, and it "dips" down into your incised trenches to collect the ink. Thicker paper is stiffer, and bulkier, so it needs the pressure of a press to force the fibers to bend into the engraved troughs to get to the ink. Keep going! Happy printing!
This is just what I was looking for - thank you! Would you recommend any particular type of paper for this technique?
Hi +Mags Phelan - Thanks for the feedback. If you're going to hand-transfer a drypoint, thinner, more flexible paper is better, so your spoon can push/dip the paper into those tiny incised lines to touch the ink. I like BFK Rives and Arches printmaking paper (lightweight - 115 gsm), as well as Mulberry. If you plan to add other media (watercolor, etc.) use the BFK or Arches, and if you plan to leave the print as is, you can try the Mulberry. (P.S. All supplies in each video are listed with links in the show more section under the video window.)
Ah, that's really helpful, Belinda - thank you so much!
Can a Dura Lar etching be printed by hand also? (I really enjoy your videos. Thanks!)
Hi Harpaint - I think if you start with a very small - 4x6 or 5x7 and *simple* line drawing to test, you can do it. The challenging part will be keeping the "plate" - your drafting film - against the paper at all times with no movement so it doesn't print in a skipped-line from wiggling around on the paper. Good luck!
Hi Belinda! How to you transfer the drawing to the plexiglass? Or do your use any kind of guideline to do the final drawing?Thanks!
You can lay your clear plexiglass over your reference image and trace with a permanent marker. :)
+Belinda Del Pesco Thanks a lot, Belinda. Just one more question, is there any other intaglio ink you recommend besides Akua? I would like to try this out but order the ink and the MagMix is kind of expensive, so I was wondering what might be a good alternative. Thanks again :)
Hi +MissNausicaa87 - you could start with just a little 2 oz akua black ink: amzn.to/1pFYYKS and the mag mix, or - use oil-based inks, like charbonnel black: amzn.to/1yKoU5S - and skip the mag mix, but know you should ventilate the room, and oil-based will require a different clean up (see this video on that: ruclips.net/video/T4qZlxkqfts/видео.html - the clean up starts at 4:44 mark) You could also try the Charbonnel water-clean up etching ink: amzn.to/1P7FIuf I've never tried it, but you can clean it up with water. Good luck! Keep us posted on your progress!
+Belinda Del Pesco Cool! I didn't know Charbonnel had water-clean up inks, the only ones I new were the Caligo Inks. Will try it out, thanks Belinda ;)
Can this be done on fabric? I want to print my etching onto clothes! What sort of ink could I use?
Hi Lily,
I have never seen anyone print an etching (or any sort of intaglio print) on cloth. You might have luck asking that question in some t-shirt print groups on facebook, or try searching for appropriate keywords in google search. Good luck to you!
Hi , belinda
Can the fine details and lines image , etched or engraved on aplexiglass by laser machine to be printed by using etching press .?
Thank you
goerge
Hi Yasin, Yes, they can. You'll still need to use the right inks, and appropriate paper, but a recessed line is a recessed line, whether carved into the plexiglass by hand or by a machine. Be aware that fumes from hot plexiglass are poisonous, and efforts to be safe should be a priority. There are more details on that here: ruclips.net/video/Fg9Y8uRX17c/видео.html
can I also apply this technique(using a spoon+thicker ink instead of a press) with metal etchings?
+khoa tran - you can try it, but if you're using copper, the spoon may flatten the burr on your line work, so test a small area first.
what paper is used you no mentioned
Luis, for hand transfer, I use thin paper, like bfk rives lightweight. I get it online: amzn.to/37UlMin
Would this work with a dry japanese style paper, like Kitakata? or would the paper still need to be moistened?
HI +mrbaschie - I've never tried it so I can only guess. The paper is nice and thin, so it might "flex" enough to dip into the delicate line work and pull ink, but is it tough enough to withstand all the rubbing? Test a piece and let us all know!
You might have gotten this question before, but how long should I rub the spoon against the paper; and how much pressure should I apply? Thank you.
Hi Joseph,
Medium to firm pressure on your spoon/baren, and and as you rub, you'll start to see the image emerge on the back of the paper - the fibers are being pushed into your incised line work, so it appears embossed. When you've rubbed the entire drypoint, hold the paper steady with an open palm, and peek under a corner to see if your ink is transferring to the paper. If it's not dark enough, keep rubbing. How long depends on the size of your plate, the level of detail on your engraving work, the paper you select, the ink you used, the tool being rubbed, and the steadiness of the hand holding it. Start small, and with a relatively simple drypoint to get the feel for it. Happy printing!
Hello Belinda, I was wondering if you have had any experience writing text on plexiglass? I am making an artist book at the moment and would like to print my text as a positive image (dark ink text on cream paper). My teacher suggested that drypoint would not be the best choice for small text. Any thoughts?
Hi +Carla M - you have lots of options, and your challenge will be laying all the text out in reverse so it reads face-forward and left to right. If you're comfortable writing in reverse, then yes, you can scratch text into a plate and print. You can also adhere reverse paper or vinyl letters, and ink & wipe them intaglio style. The ink caught in the curbs of the glued lettering should print fine. Good luck with it! :)
Thanks Belinda!
I opted for etching the lettering in reverse. I used a biro pen and scratched into a laminated cardboard - quite a lengthy and arduous process! However, I'm very happy with my results :-)
Thank you again for your expertise in this field. I really appreciate all your process videos. Cheers! Carla
Hi +Carla M - I'm so glad to hear that you got the results you were looking for, though I can just imagine how long it took to etch the lettering, in reverse, with a pen (!), on laminated cardboard. AMBITIOUS! Hats off to you for researching till you found what worked!
Hi, Belinda
Thank you very much for you tube ./fq9y8urx17c it is very helpful , but i still need to know if it is possible to print the engraved or etched fine lines and details image on plastic or polymer paper and What kind of ink should be used and around how much pressure is needed ?
Thank you
Hi Yasin, Are you printing *from* a plastic or polymer plate, or are you trying to print *on* a plastic or polymer plate, using it in place of paper? What have you tried so far?