Solar Plate Relief Printing

Printing may be done in either relief or intaglio.

Solar plate relief printing.

It is exposed with uv light and de. In the image above you will see that one shows the text in black which would work for an intaglio print and the one above shows the text clear which is how genna created the relief print. The great thing about solar plates is that the plate can be exposed in a professional exposure unit or outside in the sun. Solarplate process etching using dan weldon s method.

Print as for other intaglio or relief processes. Unlike traditional etching techniques no. Solar plates are easy to use with little experience of traditional printmaking processes. Solarplate is a light sensitized steel backed polymer material used by artists as an alternative to hazardous printing techniques.

The resulting plates reproduce fine. The plates are developed by washing in water and can be printed as intaglio or relief prints. Solar plate printmaking or polymer etch is a relatively new print process that enables images to be established onto metal plates by exposure to light using sunlight or an ultra violet light source. Before inking eliminate the sharp corners of the plate with a file and remove the burr from the steel backing.

Solarplate is a prepared light sensitive polymer surface on a steel backing for artists to produce fine prints. Unlike traditional printmaking methods that require dangerous chemicals or sharp tools and years of technical practice a solar plate uses the sun some water and a tooth brush to develop. Step five filing the plate. Printmaking with solarplate is a simple approach and safer alternative to traditional etching and relief printing.

Step six print plate. Bright sunlight or a uv bulb. Plates can be polished with abrasives to give lighter areas drypointed dremel drills are good engraved or have carborundum etc added. This article will explain how to make fine art relief print cards using only the power of the sun.

Plate thickness is less than standard zinc or copper and presses should be adjusted accordingly. Once exposed solar plates are simply developed in water without the need of additional harmful chemicals. Solar plates are a simple safe and fast approach to etching and relief printing that does not use grounds acids or solvents.