Sun etching and solar printing techniques offer artists a versatile and eco-friendly way to create unique, detailed, and expressive prints while minimizing the use of chemicals and traditional etching methods. It’s a fascinating process that combines creativity with sustainable printmaking.
Sun etching and solar printing mimics the photographic process in that there are four main steps:
1. create an image on transparent film (photographs or found objects are ideal);
2. create a photo-sensitive plate to be used in a printing press by exposing it to either sunlight or UV;
3. Wash Out or ‘developing’ the plate in a wet process (only water is used) to create an etched plate;
4. ink up the plate & printing on a press printer. Blick Baby Press Package
Solarplate Etching
Sun etching, also known as solar etching or photopolymer etching, is a printmaking process that uses sunlight or UV light to create intricate, photographic-style images on a printing plate. This environmentally friendly method eliminates the need for harsh chemicals traditionally used in etching processes.
Solar printing, on the other hand, is a broader term that encompasses various printmaking techniques using sunlight or UV light for image exposure.
Here’s a step-by-step description of the sun etching and solar printing process:
Materials and Tools:
- A suitable Solar Etching Plate (typically made of copper, zinc, or a plastic photopolymer plate).
- Sun etching emulsion (a light-sensitive material)
- Image or design to be printed
- UV exposure unit (or natural sunlight)
- Water source
- Inking tools and materials
- Printing press
- Etching and printmaking paper
- Various printmaking tools (rollers, brushes, squeegees)
- Protective gear (gloves, aprons)
- Cleaning supplies
Step One: Preparing Your Artwork
Prepare or select the image or design you want to print. This can be a hand-drawn design, a photographic transparency, or a digital image. Creating a transparency for your artwork can be achieved in several ways:
- Professional Printing Service:
- The simplest approach is to take your image to a professional print shop like Officeworks. They can print your artwork onto transparency film suitable for overhead projectors.
- Do-It-Yourself Printing:
- Alternatively, you can purchase Nobo Plain Paper Copier Transparency Film 20 Pack and print your artwork at home using your photo-copier, inkjet or laser printer.
- Artwork Materials:
- If you prefer to create your artwork from scratch, you have several options:
- Use transparent materials like acetate, mylar, or compatible film that can be printed on using your inkjet or laser printer or photocopier.
- Experiment with artistic media such as liquid opaque paint, ink, light-blocking tools, rubylith films, lithographic crayons, certain black pencils (like the Stabilo 8046), or found objects.
- Found objects on a photocopier loaded with Paper Copier Transparency Film
- Consider using glass surfaces, although plexiglass can be less predictable due to its resistance to UV light.
- If you prefer to create your artwork from scratch, you have several options:
The resulting “transparency” serves as a contact positive or negative for both intaglio and relief printmaking techniques. You can create your artwork through manual drawing, computer printouts, or photographic methods, depending on your artistic preferences and the effect you want to achieve.
Step Two: Preparing the Printing Plate
- Start with a clean and polished printing plate. If it’s a metal plate, it may need to be degreased.
- Apply a layer of sun etching emulsion evenly onto the plate’s surface. This emulsion is photosensitive and will harden when exposed to UV light.
- Allow the emulsion to dry, usually in a dark or low-light environment.
Step Three: Image Transfer to the plate
Place the image on top of the dried emulsion-coated plate and secure it in place. Alternatively, you can expose the plate directly to sunlight without an image mask for certain techniques.
Expose the plate to UV light, which hardens the emulsion in areas where light passes through the image or mask. The exposure time will vary based on the emulsion type and the UV source’s intensity.
Exposure Techniques for Solarplate Printing
When utilizing sunlight for exposure, follow these steps for optimal results:
1. Position your Solarplate indoors, away from direct sunlight.
2. If your artwork contains large areas of black, subtle grays, or photographic elements, it’s recommended to employ the “Double Exposure Technique.”
3. Before exposure, ensure that you REMOVE THE PLASTIC COVER SHEET FROM THE SOLARPLATE.
4. Place the Aquatint Screen, emulsion side down, in direct contact with the plate. Sandwich the plate and screen between thick plate glass and a foam cushion on a flat, rigid board.
5. Secure the entire assembly in the center with clamps and expose it to the sun, keeping the rays perpendicular to the unit. The best results are achieved around noontime in strong sunlight. In the northeast United States during the summertime, an average exposure time is approximately 45 seconds for the aquatint screen.
6. Once the plate has been exposed to the screen, move the entire assembly indoors and replace the screen with your artwork. The exposure process is repeated, this time with the artwork in place of the screen. The typical exposure times range around 25 seconds, but they may vary based on the density of the art. Delicate artwork may require as little as 10 seconds, while more intense work might necessitate 30 seconds or more.
When using artificial light for exposure, the duration will depend on the wattage and type of UV bulbs and the distance between the light source and the plate’s surface. If using lights designed for this purpose, the exposure times align with those for sunlight.
The darkness or density of your transparency will influence the exposure time. Darker transparencies require longer exposure, while lighter or more delicate ones need shorter exposure.
Maintain consistency in the duration of your aquatint exposure. To achieve darker results, DECREASE the exposure time for your artwork. Conversely, for lighter results, INCREASE your exposure time.
Double Exposure Technique
The “Double Exposure Technique” in printmaking, particularly in solarplate printing, involves using two separate exposures during the plate-making process to achieve specific artistic effects. This technique is often used when an artwork contains large areas of black, subtle grays, or photographic elements, as it helps capture fine details and tonal variations.
Do not use the Double Exposure Technique for relief plates. Always conduct tests before applying these methods to large plates.
Here’s an overview of how the Double Exposure Technique works:
- First Exposure: In this initial exposure, you expose the Solarplate to a light source, typically sunlight or UV light, with an aquatint screen placed directly on the plate. The aquatint screen has a pattern that provides a tonal or textural effect to the plate. The exposure time depends on factors like the intensity of the light source and the desired effect but is typically longer than a single exposure.
- Second Exposure: After the first exposure, you bring the plate indoors, remove the aquatint screen, and replace it with your artwork or image transparency. You then expose the plate to the same light source for a shorter duration. The second exposure captures the details and nuances of your artwork on the plate.
The Double Exposure Technique allows you to combine the tonal and textural qualities of the aquatint screen with the fine details of your artwork. This can result in a print with rich tonal variations, especially useful for reproducing photographs, intricate drawings, or images with a wide range of grays.
By controlling the exposure times and experimenting with different aquatint screens and transparencies, artists can achieve a broad spectrum of artistic effects, making the Double Exposure Technique a valuable tool for those working with solarplate printmaking.
Step Four: Develop the Image
- After exposure, remove the image or mask from the plate.
- Wash the plate in water to remove unexposed emulsion, revealing the etched areas.
- The emulsion in the areas that were shielded by the image or mask remains unexposed and will dissolve in the water, leaving behind the etched lines and areas.
Wash Out in Solarplate Printing
The wash out process serves as a substitute for the traditional “etching” step found in traditional Intaglio printmaking. Instead of using acid, this technique employs cool water. Follow these steps for the washout process:
- Image Scrubbing:
- Utilize cool water in place of acid.
- Gently scrub the entire image using a soft Solarplate brush.
- For double exposure plates, scrub for approximately 1 minute.
- For single exposure plates (without the screen), scrub for two minutes or longer.
- For relief plates, continue scrubbing for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Surface Transformation:
- As the washout progresses, the image will be gradually removed from the plate’s surface, resulting in the creation of an intaglio surface.
- Controlled Washout:
- You have the ability to control the washing time and can halt the process at any point that suits your desired outcome.
- Drying:
- After completing the washout, promptly blot the plate with newsprint or pages from a phone book to remove excess moisture.
This method offers a safe and eco-friendly alternative to the traditional acid-etching process in Intaglio printmaking. It allows artists to achieve intricate and controlled intaglio surfaces using cool water.
Before inking, eliminate the sharp corners of the plate with a file and remove the burr from the steel backing.
Step Five: Printing with the Solarplate
Printing may be done in either relief or intaglio. Plate thickness is less than standard zinc or copper and presses should be adjusted accordingly. Although hand printing may be accomplished by traditional rubbing techniques, a press is more desirable for ease, consistency and quality. Any quality printmaking paper may be used.
The ease in inking is enhanced by using a magnetic vinyl under the Solarplate. The steel backed Solarplate stays put on the magnet making the wiping or rolling action extremely simple.
Inking and Printing
- Apply ink to the plate, ensuring it fills the etched lines and areas. Wipe away excess ink from the plate’s surface.
- Place the plate on the printing press.
- Position a sheet of etching or printmaking paper on top of the inked plate.
- Run the plate and paper through the press to transfer the ink onto the paper.
Printing Process
You have the flexibility to choose between relief or intaglio printing methods with your Solarplate. Keep in mind that Solarplates are typically thinner than traditional zinc or copper plates, so you may need to adjust your press settings accordingly.
While hand-printing can be accomplished through traditional rubbing techniques, using a press is generally preferred for its convenience, consistency, and print quality. Any high-quality printmaking paper can be used for this process.
Inking Efficiency Enhancement
To make inking more straightforward and efficient, consider using a magnetic vinyl layer beneath the Solarplate. The steel-backed Solarplate adheres securely to the magnet, simplifying the process of wiping or rolling the ink onto the plate. This added efficiency ensures a smoother and more precise inking process when printing your Solarplate artwork.
Multiple Prints and Variations
Sun etching allows for multiple prints from the same plate, giving you the opportunity to experiment with color, texture, and layering.
Additional plates can be used for different colors or layers in multi-color prints.
Finishing
- Clean and preserve your prints by allowing them to dry thoroughly.
- Mat, frame, or otherwise prepare your prints for presentation.
Finally, enjoy your art work on a wall, in an exhibition or part of your portfolio.
Sun etching and Solar printing workshop
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