Two Gelatin Print Tips

2010, gelatin print tips / By /
Use Newsprint to absorb excess moisture. © 2010 linda germain
I may have said this before, but I think it is very helpful.  The more prints I make the more I would like to be able to predict the outcome.  So lately I have been taking the gelatin out of the refrigerator and covering it with newsprint and letting it warm up to room temp.  It is about 68 -70 degrees these days.
Gelatin can get a tough skin over time. ©2010 linda germain
Today I experimented with the two sides of my gelatin.  The print on the left was made on the surface that had been exposed to the refrigerator air for a week or so.  You can see that the ink did not transfer to the paper as well as the one on the right. The print on the right was made with the underside of the gelatin.  I flipped the gelatin over and the surface was “moister”  (had more water in it.)  So bottom line when things are not working they way I like I start asking questions and try to figure what is affecting the transfer of ink.  Check out my gelatin print tips page.  These are factors that I am aware of
  1. Room temperature
  2. age of gelatin
  3. smoothness of the surface of the paper
  4. moisture in gelatin
  5. moisture in ink
  6. type of ink
  7. method used to burnish
  8. type of paper
  9. type of stencils and tools used

     

Related posts:

    Types of stencils that I use in Gelatin Printmaking
    Use Tyvek® to make strong stencils
    Printmaking and Papers
    Mock Cyanotypes and broken bottles

1 thought on “Two Gelatin Print Tips”

  1. Sally Westcott

    Thanks for the tips Linda! Thank you for introducing me the the technique a couple of years ago.

    I make my plates in a kitty litter tray and I cover the top of the plate with cling film when I put it into the fridge. It seems to last longer that way

    hugz

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