info needed about solar plates

[zardoz]

so all of a sudden I get inspired and find that I know next to nothing about the process (nothing new to me ). knowing that there are several in here that have used them I thought i should ask ,where to find ,basics of use and anything I might need to know about solar plates before I take the plunge . I don't know If my idea will work so I want to try it first as economically as possible. googling hasn't yet found for me any thing quite like what I am thinking of but I haven't made it to all 89,000 hits just yet. thanks ahead of time for any help and insights you may be able to share

[H2O_Baby]

Z, a while back I found solarplate instructions on the following website, but don't know if it still exists and it doesn't look like the following is click-&-gom you may have to google Hass' name.

Kevin Haas | www.wsu.edu/~khaas | 2006


also if you search Brian's wet canvas posts, he has a lot of info.

BTW I put words like "techniques" in my search and it finds more better stuff (yes I had to say it that way).

Barb

[zardoz]

also if you search Brian's wet canvas posts, he has a lot of info.


Barb


I thought of that but i'm lazy:)

thanks for the tip I'll try the technique thing

[bridog]

Hi Johnny

I would recommend the book Printmaking in the Sun by Dan Welden however it has been out of print for two years now. You can get a copy on EBAY for $300 :eek:
good news is there is a new updated version coming out in the near future
also the publishers are seeking images by individuals for possible inclusion in the new updated version...hint hint for all you solar plate printmakers out there
contact Esperanza León
Hampton Editions, LTD.
PO Box 520
Sag Harbor, NY 11963
T 631.725.3990
F 631.771.3100 (please note NEW FAX)
solarplate4@aol.com
www.solarplate.com
anyhow getting back to technique: there are postings smattered around the net by different individuals
here are two of the better links that give a good overview to hopefully help you out:

http://www.nontoxicprint.com/solarplate.htm


http://www.takachpress.com/Information/solar.htm

[zardoz]

thjanks Brian I think that may be enough to get me started now to order some plates .if this experiment works I'll share

[bridog]

I found that Daniel Smith had the best price on the plates...a bit less than Blick
discovered that I could cut smaller plates myself from a large plate using a good sharp utility blade and cork backed ruler.
For example D.S. sell 5 x 7 inch plates at $9.50 each. I calculated that eight pieces measuring the same dimensions could be cut from a 16 x 20 piece (this large piece costs $64.00) so it would save $12 and would have a leftover strip measuring 2" x 20 " to use for test strips or cut into small pieces for miniature prints.
The only drawback is that the cutting of the plate has to be done in a dimly lit area as any exposure to UV during this will cause a chemical reaction in the polymer. I use a small 5W incandescent lamp to work by when I am doing this...the light level is low enough to not harm the light sensitive polymer but you can see what you are doing.
I score the exposed metal backside with several cuts of the blade and then bend it back and forth over a table ledge until a clean break occurs in the metal.

If you are planning fairly detailed work it might be advisable to get an aquatint screen as this will help keep areas of detail during the exposure.

[alantakach]

Zardoz-

Currently, there is an easy to follow manual on Solar plate and other photopolymer plates: 'Printmaking with Photopolymer Plates', by Diane Longley. It retails for $35. and has the commercial history as well as the artist use of these plates. In the back pages it has a schematic for building your own exposure-unit (a more reliable light source than the sun). If you wish to see examples of Diane's work her website is: http://www.printstudio.com.au/

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/25-Nov-2008/134434-printmaking_with_photopolymer_plates.jpg (http://www.takachpress.com/servlet/the-279/Printmaking-With-Photopolymer-Plates/Detail) We have the book 'Printmaking With Photopolymer Plates (http://www.takachpress.com/servlet/the-279/Printmaking-With-Photopolymer-Plates/Detail)' available through our online store.

[bridog]

that link Alan provided to Diane Longley's site is great...she has posted some picture tutorials in techniques.

Just wanted to mention a word of warning. With solar plate it is best to use oil based inks and clean them up with oil based cleaners. Unfortunately water has a tendency to wear down the polymer quickly so best to avoid using water once you get past washing out and curing the polymer.
I use good old vegetable oil or baby oil, but my current fave is SoySolve.
Plates should also be coated with a thin layer of oil and wrapped in tissue for storage to increase their longevity.

[Wandering Blues]

If it's close and you can afford it, Dan Weldon is teaching quite a few classes. Being 'book learner' challenged, I had three days with Dan & other amazing artists. It sent everything to a whole new level for me.

[H2O_Baby]

Brian, I have a question - I cut some solar plate and didn't quite get the cut straight. It is just off by about 2 mm. Since I can't grab it and snap it now, is the best course of action to file down the edge? I already exposed the plate.

Thanks.

Barb

[bridog]

Barb
filing would be my first course of action....the trick is keeping the plate steady and firmly secured when you run the file across it in a certain section of edge you wish to file. If you have access to a bench mounted vice clamp you could place the solar plate between pieces of cardboard or thick material like dense foam (to act as a protective barrier so the teeth of the vice clamp does not leave marks in your plate surface) and have the area to be filed exposed. Or put your plate over the edge of a table (set the plate on some gripping shelf liner mesh) and file.
I have recut very thin small strips off of plates that either were curled a bit when cut the first time or when the positive didn't quite make it to the edge. What I do is score the back of the plate several times with utility blade and then bend it carefully back and forth moving along the cut edge with snub nose plyers in increments until the whole piece just snaps off. (do this method as long as you are willing to sacrifice part of your original image if already exposed and it goes right to the edge of your plate).