Exposure of Photocopy

Image acquisition using photocopies and aquatint screen.

Materials:  

  • ImagOn plate 
  • photocopy on transparency

Using Transparent Black Photocopies 

This technique involves applying one or more layers of ImagOn film and then exposing the ImagOn film to the aquatint screen. 

Exposure to Aquatint Screen
16 L.U. (light units) 

  • The exposure to the Aquatint screen simulates the result of a traditional aquatint to acheive a solid black tone.. 
  • Each exposure unit is calibrated to the aquatint screen.
  • You want an exposure that yields a dense black.  Once the exposure time is determined, it will remain constant. (This is dependent on the UV exposure system remaining unchanged)
  • It is usually advisable to test each new roll of ImagOn with your unit to validate the same exposure.
  • Our exposure is 16 L.U. (light units)
  • It is critical to the aquatint screen when your image is a continuous tone images such as wash drawings or has areas of solid black as to avoid the "open bite" problem
Olec Exposure Unit   

Expose to photocopy on transparency  

  • Photocopy Transparency- face down
  • Immediately after this first aquatint exposure another layer of ImagOn is laminated to this previously exposed aquatint layer and then this top ImagOn layer is exposed to the halftone or art work.
Health Warning 
Rubber gloves RECOMMENDED for the development procedure. Repeated use of developing solution can dry out the skin and cause a dermatitis reaction on the hands. 
Health Warning 
Eye protection advised. 
The developer is an alkaline solution. Do not splash the developing solution into eyes. 

Health Warning
Dry without heat

Develop

  • Remove protective mylar

. . 

Dry Plate 


Harden Plate

  • The plate is then exposed to UV light to dry and light hardened
  • Two methods:
    • Expose to UV light in the exposure unit.
      1. Use double the aquatint exposure time setting.
      2. No vacuum is needed since no image is being exposed.
    • Use the sun.
      1. Prop plate up outside for apx 15 minutes or more. 

        2. The longer the plate is left outside, the clearer the color the ImagOn film becomes. 

 

Print Plate 

    Print in the Intaglio manner.

Develop
. . . 


Print