Today's postings
- [Baren 32982] Sketches to blocks using copying pencils? ("Lee Churchill")
- [Baren 32983] Re: Sketches to blocks using copying pencils? (David Harrison)
- [Baren 32984] Re: New Baren Digest (Text) V38 #3829 (Mar 11, 2007) ("steffan ziegler")
- [Baren 32985] Baren Member blogs: Update Notification (Blog Manager)
Hi David,
I have a little experience with copy pencils but not much, I didn't care
for using it.
My experience was that the lines tended to go very fuzzy (the dye bled
like mad...) when transferred so getting really good registration was
tough. But depending on what you are doing it can be a quick transfer
technique. Oh- also the pencil I was using would only do about two
transfers so if you wanted to get the drawing onto several blocks it
would be tricky...and once the paper got damp and expanded that threw
registration off further...
Cheers,
Lee Churchill
Hi Lee,
Thanks for the info. From what you say, it wouldn't be the ideal way to
go. But it was worth mooting just in case...
Here's another downer. A few pages into the Google search for 'copying
pencils' and you'll find medical papers on the dangers. Apparently they
commonly shed bits that got into people's eyes and caused all sorts of
problems. Or got under the skin and caused poisoning, etc. Not much of
an addition to the non-toxic printmaker's armoury :-)
cheers,
David
What you have there, is what my mentor called "hollidays," as in "The ink
has gone on holliday." Those develop in water based inks for consistency
reasons (the ink is too fatty (ie: too much medium), or too lean (not
enough medium)) If the pattern looks like a "beading up," then there is too
much medium, add something to dry it out, like talc, or dry pigment. If the
pattern is more random, there isn't enough medium, and the pigment isn't
being carried evenly. These can also be caused by something on the surface
of the block or plate that prevents the pigment from leaving the block, like
sap, or oil (in the case of water based inks)
With old inks, it's usually not enough medium, because it will evaporate
over time.
You might be able to add some glycerin, and that should wake it up if it
isn't too far gone. That's usually the medium for water based inks.
On the flipside, the newer series of Daniel Smith water based relief ink, is
very very good, much better than the formula you are currently using, so an
update might not be a bad idea.