ImagOn Techniques
Basic ImagOn Process
 ....
General Safety
Printmaking Safety
Textbook reference: 
pp 111-113		 Direct Intaglio-Type
Materials: Use of actual object for block out in the exposure unit, and work directly on ImagOn's  protective mylar.
..ImagOn Process Index

.ImagOn Techniques

..Projects  
  
..Schedule  
 
 

 Method One: 
For imagery to be created on ImagOn's protective mylar surface.
  • Expose to Aquatint Screen.  with the top Mylar protection sheet in place 

    • The Aquatint exposure remains constant for each exposure unit.  The aquatint screen simulates the results of conventional etching aquatints by exposing a densely clustered random dot onto the ImagOn coated plate. 
    .
  • Create image on the surface of the protective mylar
  • Image Exposure: to the image. Since the image is one the mylar surface, the use of the vacuum frame is not necessary. 

    • Varied Exposure time varies according to imagery.  Generally they are a bit less than exposure of wash/drawing technique.
YC aquatint exposure: 
16 L.U 

LaCour aquatint exposure: 
12 L.U. 


 
.Ink Modifiers  

..Printing   
   
.Ink Cleanup   

.Plate Prep   

.Use of Photocopies  

.Additives & Cleaners  

.Olec Exposure Unit  

.Basic ImagOn Process

 Image Making Techniques
Materials that work well on the Mylar surface:
  • Toner Tusche- gets great reticulation on the smooth surface
    • Card Notched
    • Spray with windex, Fantastik or water into the wet toner for some interesting effects
  • Draw
    • Micron Pigment Liner
    • Staetler Pigment Liner
    • Litho crayons 00-3 and litho pencils
    • Oil sticks
  • India Ink and drafting ink (on less sensitive exposure systems, the india ink did not work very well.
  • Stamping Techniques
  • Scratch through Black area

    • Paint with diluted Graphic Chemical water soluble relief ink. If the ink is applied too thickly it will cause the ImagOn emulsion to be removed when the Mylar is stripped from the ImagOn plate. 
Caution:
The greatest difficulty with Method One is the difficulty in knowing the exposure.

  		 Materials that work with the Mylar surface removed
after aquatint exposure:
  • all kinds of water soluble inks and watercolors can be applied directly to the unprotected ImagOn emulsion. Because the original wash painting will be dissolved during the developing of the plate your print yield will be limited to the number of prints that can be pulled from this plate.  There is no ability to re-expose.
  
  Remove mylar
    The wash painting on the surface of the Mylar, can be dried and re-used at a later date. Re-using will necessitate a reversal of this image to place the ink emulsion in direct contact with the ImagOn plate. 
 
  Method Two: Shadowgram technique 
For actual object used as imagery.
  • Expose to Aquatint Screen.  with the top Mylar protection sheet in place 

    • The Aquatint exposure remains constant for each exposure unit.  The aquatint screen simulates the results of conventional etching aquatints by exposing a densely clustered random dot onto the ImagOn coated plate. 
    .
  • Actual objects are placed on the surface of the plate. Weight down the object with the vacuum frame, its top or heavy glass.

    • Objects placed on top of the vacuum frame and covered with a heavy sheet of glass will be softer edged images due to the distance of the object from the plate.
  • Image Exposure: to the image. Since the image is one the mylar surface, the use of the vacuum frame is not necessary. 

    • Varied Exposure time varies according to imagery.  Leaves and feathers take more time than wash images.
Caution:
If objects are too thick or have sharp edges, the vacuum frame can be ruined.  Seek advice on use of the vacuum unit.
  Method Three: Negative reading Images 
For actual object used as imagery.
    Expose  Aquatint Screen and objects at the same time.
Caution:
If objects are too thick or have sharp edges, the vacuum frame can be ruined.  Seek advice on use of the vacuum unit.
  Develop
. . . 
  Print  
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© Beth LaCour 1999

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