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| © linda germain 2012 agar agar in place of gelatin for printing? |
I have had some questions about whether it is possible to use the seaweed based, agar agar instead of gelatin when making gelatin prints. Well I tried it this past week end. I had to guess on the ratio of water to flakes of agar agar. The plate came out a bit stiff and brittle. I was able to make some prints. So I guess it is possible to use the agar agar. It did not work as well as gelatin for me, but I could have the recipe wrong. I used 1/2 the bag for 4 cups of water.
I reconstituted the plate and added more water. I will let you know if it is any less brittle. I think if you are familiar with cooking agar agar it helps a lot. There is a great resource that compares the two here.
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| © linda germain 2012 a “gelatin” print made on the agar agar plate |
Agar is an alternative for those who do not use animal products. Though I do not use it I have had several students who have tried the agar plate. They have had mixed results. Some have chosen to use the commercially available Gelli plate from Gelli Arts.
So there are plenty of printing plate options. It will depend on the artist’s goals and priorities which plate is preferred.
I love the spongey nature of the glycerin and gelatin plate recipe. I like the way it holds and transfers ink.
You can get the Free recipe for the gelatin and glycerin plate here.
Dear Linda it could be interesting to avoid use of animal gelatin… hope one day we can find a way. What do you think about gelly arts gelatin plate? I live in Italy so have not tried it, it seems to be too stiff for the interesting results you can have with “soft” gelatin…. Ciao! Linda Pelati
I think it is great to have options. Real gelatin is still my favorite but the commercial gelli plate and the agar agar plate work too. It is what we get used to and the result that we are looking for that seem to be factors in choosing a “gelatin” plate.
perhaps adding a little glycerin to the agar agar would help with the brittle-ness?
good idea. Let me know how it works out if you give it a try.
When making a permanent gelatin plate, glycerin is used to ‘rubberise’ the gelatin thereby making the plate permanent. It may get rid of the brittleness of the seaweed!
If you make your own gelli plate using gelatin, how and where do you store it? Thanks.
If I make a gelatin and water plate I store it in the refrigerator. If I make a gelatin, glycerin and water plate I just leave it on my work bench.
Hi Linda
Would you be able to share this recipe. Thanks. I made it before and forgot where I put the recipe.
Thanks. V also the size of it. V
HI Valerie,
I have only tried the agar agar a few times. And I don’t have a recipe. But if you are familiar with how to prepare it in general just make it a little stronger. If I remember correctly I think it is good to simmer it for a while. http://www.justonecookbook.com/how_to/how-to-make-agar/ Goodluck