I have been thinking of my readers and about the challenge it has been to find gelatin and glycerin these days. I always try to put myself in your shoes when it comes to exploring this art form.
Even in good times it was a challenge to find glycerin. These days you have to get it online and be very aware of how much you are getting and the cost. Some of the choices are very costly.
So I thought, let’s go back to the plate that requires just gelatin and water. And to my surprise there was no plain unflavored gelatin to be found at the local grocery stores.
So I carefully searched online and found some reasonably priced. Again be careful, check prices and sizes.
I made a couple of plain gelatin and water plates.
The things I learned:
- My 12 year old gelatin might be less effective 🙂
- Make a small plate first to check the water/gelatin ratio
- 1 oz gelatin to 8 fluid oz seems to be a good ratio
- Microwave to dissolve lumps
- Pour through cheesecloth to catch foam
- If using high sided pan, put in refrigerator to harden
- Store in refrigerator in plastic bag
This is a small gelatin and water plate that I made a few weeks ago. The edges are drying up and getting hard.
The difference between the gelatin and water only plate and the glycerin, gelatin and water plate is:
- Gelatin & water only plate needs to be refrigerated
- Gelatin & water only plate can be more fragile
- Gelatin & water only plate lasts about a month
- Gelatin & water only plate is cheaper to make
- Gelatin & water only plate can be moist or watery when you first take it out.
- Tips on making a small gelatin and water plate – here
The big reason I used to make the gelatin and water only plate was because it was very inexpensive, less than $10. That may not be the case right now.
Depending on your goals and the types of impressions that you like to make one of the commercially produced mineral oil based gel plates may be another choice for you right now.
If you need the recipe for making the Glycerin, gelatin and water plate, get them here. The recipe that includes glycerin is very durable and long lasting.