Great Detail prints with the gelatin plate

Supplies I used to create this great detail with the gel plate:

• gelatin plate
• ink
• brayer
• print paper
• water
• newsprint
• plexi plate

The Gel Printing Process

This print is often referred to as the ghost print.  I called it the ghost print too when I first started out.  Ghost print is a printmaker term that is used to describe the light impression that is made from the left over ink after the original print is pulled.  It is very similar to the original but lighter.  I can understand how the term got attached to the second print but I feel that it is really not accurate.  Therefore I refer to this second print as the detail print.  I think that this term is a better description of the second print.

This print is the layer of ink that holds all of the details from the stencils and stamping tools.

So in order to get the detail print you have to pull the shape print first.  After you have pulled the shaped print, remove the stencils, set them to the side.

Get a fresh piece of paper  Place it on the gelatin plate and burnish edge to edge.

Sneak a peek – peel back one edge and see if you have picked up all the ink possible, if not then roll it back down and burnish some more.  Eventually peel off the print and admire.

Dark ink detail prints are easier to see compared to yellow or gold ink prints.
Sometimes I will do a newsprint pick up before I pick up the stencils to get rid of some of the plate ink.  This will give you a clean back ground and increase the contrast.

Pull some fabulous detail gelatin prints and share them with the Gelatin Printmaking Flickr group or the  Facebook Gelatin Printmaking community.  Inspire us!

If you are interested in learning how to create your own fabulous monotype prints with the glycerin and gelatin plate then check out the details of Make Monotypes the online printmaking class with Linda Germain