Solar Plate Etching Technique

Unfortunately it is not a very environmentally friendly technique as it involves sheets of metal usually made of copper or zinc and acid used to etch the print onto the metal.

Solar plate etching technique.

Solarplate is a prepared light sensitive polymer surface on a steel backing for artists to produce fine prints. Solarplate process etching using dan weldon s method. The ground is usually a compound. Gently scrub the entire image with a soft solarplate brush for.

As a method of printmaking it is along with engraving the most important technique for old master prints and remains in wide use today. An eco friendly alternative to traditional etching traditional etching is a printmaking process that dates back 500 years. Etching using solar plates is a technique which emerged from the early days of photographic engraving. Etching a method of making prints from a metal plate usually copper into which the design has been incised by acid.

Printmaking with solarplate is a simple approach and safer alternative to traditional etching and relief printing. You can create a piece of artwork on a transparent film. A light sensitive metal plate is etched through the action of ultraviolet light enabling a wide range of tones to be bitten into the plate. He was the inventor of this printmaking technique.

The plate is then inked wiped and printed on a traditional etching press giving. There currently is a discussion how to improve safe handling and protective measures for artists using solar plate type plates. Paper types tools and materials in intaglio printing. Step three rinse plate in water.

Solar plates are a simple safe and fast approach to etching and relief printing that does not use grounds acids or solvents. Etching is traditionally the process of using strong acid or mordant to cut into the unprotected parts of a metal surface to create a design in intaglio incised in the metal. A brief history of photographic etching and its terminology. Always test before using large plates.

The copperplate is first coated with an acid resistant substance called the etching ground through which the design is drawn with a sharp tool. Cool water is used instead of acid. Never use the double exposure technique for relief plates. In modern manufacturing other chemicals may be used on other types of material.

This technique is another version of photographic etching in which a prepared solar plate is exposed to u v. Dan explains how it works. Light through specially prepared digital imagery and developed in water.