The following are just to record a couple of posts I made on my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/colinblanchardprints before they get lost in the crazy world there!
Those of you familiar the Ternes Burton pin and tab system of registration may well already be aware of this issue.
When printing some larger linocuts on a roller/etching press, especially those like the one I'm printing at the minute, which require quite a lot of press pressure to get a good clean print, the thin 'mylar' tabs and the tape holding the position of the pins, come under considerable strain and actually stretch and shift.
These tabs will be ruined for reuse and accurate register would have been very difficult to achieve - if I had required it (these were just for consistent positioning on the paper of a one colour print)
I have a set of the much more robust ones from Ironbridge Fine Arts and would have had to re-setup with those.
Those of you familiar the Ternes Burton pin and tab system of registration may well already be aware of this issue.
When printing some larger linocuts on a roller/etching press, especially those like the one I'm printing at the minute, which require quite a lot of press pressure to get a good clean print, the thin 'mylar' tabs and the tape holding the position of the pins, come under considerable strain and actually stretch and shift.
These tabs will be ruined for reuse and accurate register would have been very difficult to achieve - if I had required it (these were just for consistent positioning on the paper of a one colour print)
I have a set of the much more robust ones from Ironbridge Fine Arts and would have had to re-setup with those.
Here is the probable reason for the issue.
This lino block was what was left after a two stage reduction - the basis of the first, colour version, of my Bittern. As it was already set up, I decided to use it to try some new, to me, 'Stay Open' ink and lovely big 'handy' roller from Hawthorn Printmaker Supplies that I was lucky enough to win as part of a prize.
Now, when I printed this block before, on the same 300gsm paper, with my usual, slightly reduced Caligo Safewash; same packing etc, the press pressure required was just as I normally have it. Therefore the TB tabs were able to easily take the slight pull of the 'sandwich' going through the rollers, with no potential stretch or shift at all.
However, this 'stay open' ink, used straight from the pot, is mighty powerful stuff. Its very high tack and dense pigmentation did give a beautiful sharp solid print; but... on this matt finish rag paper, only when the pressure was wound up somewhat higher than I normally would expect. I could have applied more ink to the block, and used less pressure, but that would have risked 'filling in' of fine detail and lost the almost microscopic texture to the solids of the print that I love so much.
Anyway I have decided to produce an edition of these in black.
This lino block was what was left after a two stage reduction - the basis of the first, colour version, of my Bittern. As it was already set up, I decided to use it to try some new, to me, 'Stay Open' ink and lovely big 'handy' roller from Hawthorn Printmaker Supplies that I was lucky enough to win as part of a prize.
Now, when I printed this block before, on the same 300gsm paper, with my usual, slightly reduced Caligo Safewash; same packing etc, the press pressure required was just as I normally have it. Therefore the TB tabs were able to easily take the slight pull of the 'sandwich' going through the rollers, with no potential stretch or shift at all.
However, this 'stay open' ink, used straight from the pot, is mighty powerful stuff. Its very high tack and dense pigmentation did give a beautiful sharp solid print; but... on this matt finish rag paper, only when the pressure was wound up somewhat higher than I normally would expect. I could have applied more ink to the block, and used less pressure, but that would have risked 'filling in' of fine detail and lost the almost microscopic texture to the solids of the print that I love so much.
Anyway I have decided to produce an edition of these in black.
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