Home › Forums › Explore Media › Printmaking › Are Gamblin relief inks supposed to be super stiff
- This topic has 4 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 7 years ago by neilpriceart.
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March 31, 2017 at 8:57 am #994977
I decided to try a new to me ink yesterday, and picked up Gamblin’s Portland Intense Black from a local shop. It’s by far the stiffest ink I’ve ever used. Really hard to roll out without little lumps. The dealer is right next to an art school with a printmaking program, so I don’t think the ink is old. Did I get a bad batch, or is that normal? Anything I can to to fix the ink?
Many thanks in advance,
JeffMarch 31, 2017 at 9:02 pm #1267792Hello…glad you asked as maybe someone has an answer.
I use Gamblin relief inks a lot and for several colors I have they are very stiff. My Portland Intense Black, Pthalo Green, Hansa Yellow and Pthalo Blue are all very stiff. I do have tack reducer that I usually have to use with them.
The white has a nice flow to it and isn’t stiff what so ever. I really like it which is why I bought a lot of the other Gamblin colors. I’ve had major issues printing the yellow, but the others usually work out in the end.
It’s definitely not your batch. It might be normal. I usually mix the ink up with a putty knife and as it gets folded over on itself it usually starts to loosen up. I also use the tip of the knife to get as many of the lumps out of the ink as I can before printing. Once I do that with the black it usually goes pretty smooth from there.
I do think it may just be their ink.
Douglas Thomas
https://www.etsy.com/shop/DougJenThomas
http://dougthomas.blogspot.com/
https://twitter.com/dwtanimatorApril 1, 2017 at 8:17 am #1267793Thanks Doug. I’ll stick with it then. It did print well once I dealt with the lumps.
Thanks again,
JeffApril 1, 2017 at 9:52 am #1267791I use a different ink but have similar issues. I find whites are fluid, blacks very stiff and the other colours somewhere in between. I’ve always assumed it was something to do with the chemical and physical properties of the pigments used.
Ian
Website - https://ianbertramartist.uk
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Facebook: - https://www.facebook.com/ianbertramartist/April 4, 2017 at 8:15 am #1267794Thanks Ian. I hadn’t considered how the pigments would change the consistency of the ink. I need to pick up more ink to experiment with.
Thanks again,
Jeff -
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