Photogravure/Photo Polymer Gravure

[jovo]

I just noticed this on the Center for Photography at Woodstock's site www.cpw.org

July 11-15 | Lothar Osterberg Photogravure in collaboration with Women's Studio Workshop.

Osterberg, IIRC used to post some gorgeous gravures on apug some time ago. When the CPW publishes the details of their catalog, I'll post here again. The workshops there are always worthwhile, although they're not as inexpensive as I wish they were.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Anyone know where I can purchase photopolymer plates in the Vancouver Canada area? I can't seem to find anything on the internet. I used to do a lot of photogravures years ago and would like to get back into it using this method as it doesn't involve etching with acid. I still have access to an intaglio press.

 

[phaedrus]

Blick Art Materials has them.

 

[MattKing]

Anyone know where I can purchase photopolymer plates in the Vancouver Canada area? I can't seem to find anything on the internet. I used to do a lot of photogravures years ago and would like to get back into it using this method as it doesn't involve etching with acid. I still have access to an intaglio press.

Andrew:

Does this link help:

http://www.frasers.com/public/searchResults.jsf;jsessionid=8567AB2B11E0FB713D30D6653791ABC4?dimensionName=Flexo+-+Photopolymer+Plates&guided=true&ProductID=34068

I note that the linked information for Heidelberg Canada Graphic Equipment Ltd. shows a Richmond, BC office.

Matt

 

[Whiteymorange]

I use Boxcar Press for my plates. If all else fails, look up suppliers of letterpress supplies. These plates are made for the printing trade.

 

[rdbkorn]

Andrew,

I live in Victoria, and have ordered solarplates from Dan Smith in Seattle. They are Toyobo Printight KM73 plates, which are carried by Williamson Printing (http://www.williamson.ca/). There is a Williamson office in Richmond, might be worth contacting them to see if they will sell small quantities, etc.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Great, guys. Thanks for your help. I'll check the Richmond branch.

 

[jovo]

The Center for Photography at Woodstock has finally released their 2009 catalog with course descriptions and workshop presenter's bios. Here's the photogravure one given by Lothar Osterberg as promised:

http://www.cpw.org/WPW/2009/pages/July.html

 

[freedda]

quality of polymer gravure and workshps

Whitey, I took a photopolymer gravure class in March, 2010 in NH taught by Mark Nelson and Paul Taylor. Paul does fine-art copper-plate photogravure at his studio (http://www.renaissancepress.com/). Mark developed the precision digital negative (PDN) system and also teaches platinum/paladium printing ( ender100@aol.com ).

Though I can't say they were exactly up to photogravure quality, they were pretty darn close and I don't think either Mark or Paul would be teaching the method if they didn't believe in the quality of the images.

We were using Toyobo KM-73 plates. Mark's digital negative (in our case, positives) method really gives you control over your tonal range, which is where I see many photo-polymer images lacking.

I understand that they both plan to offer more workshops. I suggest you contact them if you're interested.

I haven't done any traditional gravure, but I'll say that I've seen lots of poly-gravure prints and they have never come to the level of perfection evident in the copper-plate gravure prints tipped into wonderfully expensive old hard-bound books. It may be possible.

 

[freedda]

difference between Toyobo and Solar Plates

Rdkorn, Andrew, et al. Just to clarify, Toyobo Printight KM-73 plates and Solar Plates are both made with photopolymer materials, but are two different products. Dan Smith does carry solar plates, but not the KM-73 plates. There are other US sources for both.

Andrew,

I live in Victoria, and have ordered solarplates from Dan Smith in Seattle. They are Toyobo Printight KM73 plates, which are carried by Williamson Printing (http://www.williamson.ca/). There is a Williamson office in Richmond, might be worth contacting them to see if they will sell small quantities, etc.

 

[Whiteymorange]

I get my plates (km73) at Boxcar press. Nice folks.

Fredda: Thanks for the workshop tip. I'll look them up.

 

[Cape Fear]

It is nice to see people discussing the differences in photogravure and photopolymer. I added a page to my site recently explaining the differences in the photo intaglio processes. Please check it out if you are interested.
http://www.capefearpress.com/photointagliodef.html
Jennifer

 

[xate]

Hi! I´m looking for the book Photopolymer Gravure a New Mehod from Eli Ponsaing, I hope someaone of you can help me, I need it for my thesis. Thanks.

 

[lenslens]

anyone have any success with direct to plate printing? or know of any information... I really love the idea of skipping the positive in the process.. I see some are using it successfully... But as to how they are doing it I have know knowledge..

 

[gandolfi]

Hi! I´m looking for the book Photopolymer Gravure a New Mehod from Eli Ponsaing, I hope someaone of you can help me, I need it for my thesis. Thanks.

I have had it... but I can't find it... crap..

BUT I can refer you to Inger Lise Rasmussen - a Danish female graphic printer, who has used this technique since the beginning and who was a close friend to Eli Ponsaing...

Maybe she can help you here...

ingerlise.rasmussen@gmail.com

http://www.ingerliserasmussen.dk/index.php/da/galleri

 

[Bruce]

if you want to learn the Photogravure process that uses a copper plate, I recommend you take a workshop from Jennifer at Cape Fear Press. She does offer nice workshops at her home studio.

Bruce