Wednesday, September 13, 2006

the3robbers

...untitled
...untitled,
originally uploaded by the3robbers.
I was randomly searching through flickr when I bumped into this printmakers work. I really like his work a lot. They remind me of prints that dawn was creating her last semester.




i photocopied pictures i liked...put photocopies image side down on to the paper i wished to transfer the images to...brushed paint thinner on the back of them...rubbed the back of the photocopies with a burnisher, but you could use the back of a spoon i guess...this transfers the image to your new paper...

solvent transfers are sooo dangerous. you should try doing a xerox transfer if you still have access to an etching press.

non-toxic steps:
1. fresh [day or less old] copies [photocopy toner works the best]
2. paint layer of shellac on back of paper to give it some substance.
3. get bowl, spounge, gum arabic.
4. dampen spounge.
5. rub gum arabic into copy paper to make areas that don't have toner resist ink [very much like litho process].
6. keep paper damp with spounge
7. use brayer to roll up copy. using spounge to keep copy wet and areas without toner resisting ink.
8. use an old etching plate for a backing plate. print onto either damp or dry paper.

Paper-Litho-Transfer

MATERIALS:

1. Shellac (Bull’s Eye Orange works best)
2. Xerox or Laser Print
3. Oil based Lithography Inks
4. Roller or Brayer
5. Newsprint
6. Gum Arabic
7. Sponges
8. One empty bowl
9. One bowl with clear water and a tsp. of gum arabic
10.

This process uses your Xerox or laser print as a printing plate. You usually get only one or two quality prints out of each Copy. It is a good idea to have MANY copies with you when you begin printing. Your Copy must be toner based (heat set) and not inkjet or any other water-based type.

Prepare your ink and roll out on slab. A small amount of setswell or varnish may be needed to loosen the ink. Keep the ink on the slab lean to help avoid scumming of your plate.

1. Shellac the back of the Xerox or Laser Print. This can be done ahead of time.
2. Spread a thin layer of gum arabic onto the glass slab to hold the copy in place.
3. Place the Copy face up on the slab.
4. Spread a thin layer of gum over the face of the copy.
5. With fresh water on sponge wipe excess gum from Copy.
6. Roll up the Copy with ink as if a lithographic stone or plate.
7. Wipe the Copy with the damp sponge.
8. Ink again.
9. Repeat until inked to your liking.
10. Place your good paper on clean plate and place inked Copy face down onto paper.
11. Cover with newsprint and then with blanket(s).
12. PRINT!

3 comments:

Amanda said...

Love your blog and have been spending some time trawling through your archive and following up links and artists you have mentioned.Fun!
This post is particularly interesting to me as I have been having some difficulty with xerox lithography (paper litho transfers). Unfortunately I am a complete printmaking novice, so this sentence is a bit beyond me: Keep the ink on the slab lean to help avoid scumming of your plate.
Could you please explain "lean" and "scumming" in this context.
If you have time, maybe you could visit this post at my blog where I have posted a pic of the trouble I am having...http://amandawatson-will.blogspot.com/2007/04/calling-all-printmakers-advice-needed.html
Many thanks,
Amanda

Anonymous said...

Wow that is so beautiful. My mother was a print maker so i'm so mesmerized by beautiful pieces like that it really reminds me of my mother's work.

The picture you put up is one of my favorites from what i saw on her flickr.

Thank you for the non-toxic steps i think its amazingly great i really want to get into print making maybe ill be as good as my mother was!
this is great thank you ever so much! im going to be reading your blog on a daily basis, definitely.
Ive read two posts so far n theyve been ever so helpful!

Keep up the amazing work!
kerrie

Carla E. Reyes said...

Thanks for this- I forgot how to do xerox litho and couldn't find much online. I am gonna subscribe to your blog! :)