Date: February 20, 2014
Room Temperature: 68 degrees Farenheit, dry
Researcher’s Name: Cathe Janke
Test Summary
This test is to determine a good setting for the blacks using the same file from test #36 and changing the Blacks to 200 (plate A) and the Blacks to 170 (plate B) and Blacks to 79 (Test C)
Image Preparation
1. Change image to TIFF
2. Image > size> 5.667, 4.25, 300 dpi
3. Layer> New Adjust Layer> Channel Mixer > monochrome +54 RED +45 GREEN
4. Layer> New Adjust Layer> Levels (Adjust the sliders. White slider on the left at 7 and
Plate A Black at 200
Plate B Black at 170
Plate C Black at 79
5. Layer> New Adjust Layer> Invert
6. Click on original layer in the history, and Filter> Filter gallery > preset aquatint screen, dpi
7. Brought zipdrive to Collective Copies. Printed on a DOCUCOLOR 242 Laser Printer.
And the person helping said the bypass tray could not be set with “Transparency” so it was set at “Coated”
Plate Material: .032 Copper
Plate Size: 4″ x 6.5”
Plate A, film before ironing
Plate B, film before ironing
Plate C, film before ironing.
Plate Preparation
:
The plates were beveled, polished with 00 grade steel wool, and degreased with soy sauce and bon ami.
The copper plate was placed on a phone book and the film was placed on its surface print-side-down. The film was carefully heated to the plate with a tacking iron for 8 minutes at 300 degrees F.
Testers found that backing the plate with contact paper was most pragmatic AFTER the plate had been ironed and cooled and with the film still adhered to the plate.
Etching Notes : The plate was etched in a 42 degrees Baume Ferric Chloride bath in a vertical tank.
Time in Bath: 20 minutes
Removal of Grounds:
Plates were saturated with SoySolvII and left to soak for 5 minutes. Ground was then wiped off easily with a rag.
After Bath Evaluation: looks good.
Inking Methods:
Plate was inked with Graphic Chemical Etching Ink in Bone Black, applied with a piece of mat board. It was gently wiped in an outwards motion with a piece of tarlatan. Then paper wiped, then hand-wiped.
Plate A, plate after etch
Plate B, plate after etch
Plate C, plate after etch
Paper Type: Hahnemuhle, warm white Paper Soaking Time: 20 minutes
Press Blanket Setup: Takach pressure at 5.5, 2 blankets, sheet of newsprint
Test Conclusion
Plate A, Black at 200, came out very well. Good results.
Plate B, Black at 170, came out well also, with a little less detail and grays.
Plate C, Black at 79, did not have many mid-tones or grays.