Help with photogravure transfer

[Mateo]

I'm all set to make my first photogravure plates but I'm hoping that someone here has some experience with the transfer of the carbon tissue to the copper plate. In the old book I have from the 1930s It recommends combining the tissue and the copper plate in a solution of 50%-80% alcohol. but what isn't mentioned is which alcohol. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Lasse Mellberg]

photogravure transfer

My way is like follow

After exposing I soak the tissue in a tray where I already have the clean degresed copperplate in the bottom of. The tissue is soaked for abot 1-2 minutes.
The solution is Rubbingalcohol 1 part and three part of destilled water
then the tissue has flattening out - like relaxed I take upp the copper-
plate and place on some old newspapers. Whith a squezzer I firmly press
the tissue on it. - You could also read on www.alternativephotography.com
for the way I work.
Good Luck - with a amazing process!!!!

Lasse

 

[Mateo]

Tack so mycket Lasse!

I found your article at alternativephotography.com and followed your instructions and now I have 2 plates drying and waiting to be bitten. I'm very excited about this process but it is by far the most demanding thing I've ever tried.

 

[Jeremy]

I'm very excited about this process but it is by far the most demanding thing I've ever tried.

but you don't need a geiger counter for this one!

just kidding

 

[Aggie]

but you don't need a geiger counter for this one!

just kidding

or a bomb shelter

 

[photomc]

Tack so mycket Lasse!

I found your article at alternativephotography.com and followed your instructions and now I have 2 plates drying and waiting to be bitten. I'm very excited about this process but it is by far the most demanding thing I've ever tried.

Way Coooolllllll!!!! I want to see!!

 

[kamprint]

I'm all set to make my first photogravure plates but I'm hoping that someone here has some experience with the transfer of the carbon tissue to the copper plate. In the old book I have from the 1930s It recommends combining the tissue and the copper plate in a solution of 50%-80% alcohol. but what isn't mentioned is which alcohol. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

<1> Soak the exposed carbon tissue in cold water for about one or one-and-a-half minutes, until it curls back slightly.

<2> Place a thoroughly degreased copperplate in another tray of warm (27 degrees C.) water.

<3> Place the exposed carbon tissue face down in the tray with the warm water, and tack one edge gently to the submerged copperplate.

<4> Pull the copperplate and carbon tissue out of the warm-water tray, and quickly but gently squeegee the carbon tissue from the center outward, so that it is completely adhered with no trapped air bubbles.

<5> Make sure the carbon tissue is aligned so that none of it falls over the edge of the copperplate. Cut off any part of the carbon tissue that goes over the edge; otherwise water used to develop the resist will seep between the carbon tissue and the copperplate.

In my experience alcohol is not necessary, though it probably does not do any harm. The main thing is to not do anything that interferes with firm, even adhesion. Alcohol might help in removing the water from the adhesion interface quickly, but it would also harden the resist, requiring a longer etching time.

There are many methods, the above has worked for me. Good luck. I will be doing a workshop on this in Gubbio Italy July 28 - 30 (details at my website).

Peter Miller
The Kamakura Print Collection > www.kamprint.com
Kamakura, Japan