Photogravure in Atlanta

Ken Wilkens

Member
Joined
May 23, 2023
Messages
7
Location
Cumming, GA
Format
DSLR
Hi,

Just came across this website. My wife and I do copper plate photogravure in the Atlanta area. I have dabbled in photography for some time while my wife has been a printer for many years, so we decided to start doing photogravures. We have been making them for several years now and have a complete studio.
 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
52,920
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format
Welcome to Photrio. As a near lifetime photography enthusiast, and for a while (many years ago) an offset printer and line camera operator, I'm impressed by anyone who works in photogravure.
I hope you enjoy your time here, and can enjoy contributing to the community.
 
OP
OP

Ken Wilkens

Member
Joined
May 23, 2023
Messages
7
Location
Cumming, GA
Format
DSLR
koraks said:
Welcome to Photrio, @Ken Wilkens !

Ah, copper plate photogravure; the noble grandfather of photopolymer intaglio How do you make the plates; with a photopolymer or a gelatin matrix?
Click to expand...

We use a gel matrix (dragon tissue) from cape fear. It was discontinued last July, so we will need to find a replacement when our supply runs out.

Currently we are doing our own work, but that may change soon when my wife retires this summer.
 

koraks

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Nov 29, 2018
Messages
22,837
Location
Europe
Format
Multi Format
Ken Wilkens said:
It was discontinued last July, so we will need to find a replacement when our supply runs out.
Click to expand...

Ah, that's a pity. DIY perhaps? It's basically carbon transfer as I understood it when I read up on this. There are carbon transfer practitioners on this forum, and there's a good (albeit small) forum here as well: https://groups.io/g/carbon/topics

I've also considered (before I sold off my etching press) using photopolymer film on copper plate. It's fairly easy to process, but it requires a collimated light source due to it's thickness. I also found it challenging to deal with the brittle edges, which always took some ink and therefore made the edge of the plate very visible.

There's a photopolymer paste that is used for making printed circuit boards that might be used in this application as well. I did a writeup on how I use it for PCB's a few weeks ago; I think the same process should work in principle for copper plate gravure. PCB etching is copper etching anyway, wo the process is pretty much the same. What I don't know is how well the paste sticks to a polished plate instead of a sanded one as I use for PCB's.

Different kind of print – Making PCB’s at home – Koraks tinkers

tinker.koraks.nl
 
Last edited:
OP
OP

Ken Wilkens

Member
Joined
May 23, 2023
Messages
7
Location
Cumming, GA
Format
DSLR
I have not tried circuit board etching as of yet. I am not sure how well it would work as it is designed to etch or not etch, where for a photogravure I need something that will give midtones
 
OP
OP

Ken Wilkens

Member
Joined
May 23, 2023
Messages
7
Location
Cumming, GA
Format
DSLR
Johns21 said:
How did you initially get interested in this art form? I'd love to learn more about your journey, and the process behind creating photogravures.
Click to expand...

I have been taking pictures for some time, my wife is an intaglio printmaker. When we got married she looked for a way to combine the two. We took a class on the process from Paul Taylor in 2017, Paul then came and helped us set up our studio
 

technicolorsound

Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2024
Messages
4
Location
Atlanta
Format
Large Format
Hey Ken, just came across your post. I’ve been looking for someone local to Atlanta who might be able to make a small photogravure edition. Is that something you might be interested in?
 
OP
OP

Ken Wilkens

Member
Joined
May 23, 2023
Messages
7
Location
Cumming, GA
Format
DSLR
technicolorsound said:
Hey Ken, just came across your post. I’ve been looking for someone local to Atlanta who might be able to make a small photogravure edition. Is that something you might be interested in?
Click to expand...
We would have to see what is involved. Take a look at our website for more information.
passerinapress.com
 

technicolorsound

Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2024
Messages
4
Location
Atlanta
Format
Large Format
Ken Wilkens said:
We would have to see what is involved. Take a look at our website for more information.
passerinapress.com
Click to expand...

Website looks amazing! Just gave you a follow on Instagram. I shoot mostly 4x5 landscape. I’ll shoot you a message on there or via your website so you have my contact info. We can circle back in the new year. Thanks!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…