AKUA Pin Press User Manual Download

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Pin Press User Guide | January 2015

Pin Press

Summary of Contents for Pin Press

Page 1: ...Pin Press User Guide January 2015 TM Pin Press ...

Page 2: ...notype 16 17 Subtractive Monotype 18 19 Viscosity Monotype 20 23 Trace Monotype 24 25 Stencils 26 29 Ghost Printing 30 31 Drypoint 32 33 4 After Printing 34 39 Cleaning up Storing Press 35 Drying Storing Prints 36 39 5 Troubleshooting 40 45 Written by Susan Rostow Inventor of Akua Inks Accessories Co writes and Copy Edits Brittany Kleinschnitz and Christina Pumo Photography and Design Christina Pu...

Page 3: ... for drypoint printmaking this is because the burr of the drypoint holds the ink The crescent shaped handles swivel and act stand when not in use Rest the palm of your hands on the flat side of the crescent shaped handles when printing PREFACE Writing instructions for a creative thinker is a challenging task I wonder How can I cover so many printmaking possibilities and variables in just a 14 page...

Page 4: ... thickness or greater for successful printing is recommended as surfaces like wooden tables laminated surfaces and Plexiglas do not always provide a consistently flat surface To check to see if a surface is flat lay your Pin Press down flat on the press bed Next take a sheet of paper and try to insert the paper between the press and the glass surface If the paper slips through there is a dip in th...

Page 5: ...e with the paper laying it on top of the plate When positioning your plate add a drop or two depending on the size of your plate of water underneath the printing plate The water will prevent the plate from moving Be careful not to add too much water as it can spread under pressure and possibly stain the paper margins KEEPING YOUR PLATE IN POSITION BEFORE YOU BEGIN Lay the Pin Press down so the rol...

Page 6: ...wn with registration template 2 Lay your paper onto the plate 3 Gently place the Pin Press on the center of the paper 4 Using light pressure place the palm of your hands on the flat side of the crescent shaped handles Do not hold onto the roller itself Roll back and forth in small passes a few times to allow the paper and plate to stick together STEPS ...

Page 7: ...ally to ensure even coverage 6 Lift and check a corner of the print before pulling the paper from the plate To check the transfer keep one hand lightly pressing the other half of the paper on the plate to keep the paper plate registration 7 Apply more pressure with the roller as needed 8 After printing rest the Pin Press on the flat side of both handles ...

Page 8: ...6 www AkuaInks com MATERIALS AND PREPARATION Inks Modifiers Applicators Paper Plates Pin Press ...

Page 9: ...o thin to print roll ups by hand Mix with AkuaTM Tack Thickener For Brushwork Akua Intaglio Ink If Akua Intaglio is too thick to brush add a few drops of AkuaTM Blending Medium to loosen Akua Liquid Pigment Ink For hand printing with Akua Liquid Pigment it may be necessary to add a drop or two of AkuaTM Retarder to the ink For Drypoint Akua Intaglio Ink is recommended SELECTING AKUA INKS gum based...

Page 10: ... AgentTM over the metallic ink that was applied to the plate Wait 3 5 minutes and print Transparent Base Use with Akua Liquid Pigment Akua Intaglio Transparent Base is Akua Intaglio Ink base without pigment Adding Akua Liquid Pigment to Transparent Base will thicken Akua Liquid Pigment and create new intaglio or relief colors Adding Akua Intaglio ink s to this base will increase ink transparency T...

Page 11: ...elease A few drops in the ink are essential when printing on dry paper Ideal for hot dry or cold climates It is a clear liquid Extender Use with Akua Liquid Pigment Extender is used to thin Akua Liquid Pigment if it becomes too thick It is not recommended for use with Akua Intaglio Inks It is medium amber in color with a liquid consistency Blending Medium Use with Akua Liquid Pig ment or Akua Inta...

Page 12: ...le Tips Steel Angled Tips Sturdy 1 2 tip for precise detail Available in fine medium and wide tips Plastic Straight Tips Super flexible 1 2 tip for very delicate detail Available in the fine size Plastic Tapered Tip Rigid 1 1 4 for bold lines and selected areas of color Available in wide size Steel Angled Plastic Straight Plastic Tapered The AkuaTM Needle Applicator Set offers three styles of inte...

Page 13: ...with the Pin Press Specifically designed for monotype and drypoint processes Akua Printmaking Plates are made of 100 crystal clear no tint PETG plastic and their soft malleable surfaces allow for easily incised lines and a smooth transfer from ink to paper Whatever plate you opt to use please note that thinner plates 1 16 or thinner are best for use with the Pin Press Creating a drypoint on an Aku...

Page 14: ...t of paper with water using a spray bottle 2 Dampen multiple sheets of paper by layering one on top of the other spraying each time you add a sheet Spray the top and bottom of the first sheet followed by only spraying the top surface of each subsequent sheet This allows the top of the previous sheet to wet the back of the next layer 3 Fold the plastic sheet around the stack of paper and seal so ai...

Page 15: ...it an entire sheet of paper lying flat and fill with water until the paper is completely submerged On average soak time can range from 5 20 minutes in the tray depending upon the weight of the paper For exaple 245gsm will lean towards a 5 10 minute soak time while a 320gsm paper will lean towards a 10 20 minute soak time Tissue Paper approx 12 20 Super Light approx 30 65 Light Weight approx 100 18...

Page 16: ...14 www AkuaInks com CREATING THE IMAGE ...

Page 17: ...mend Akua Inks Because Akua Inks do not dry on a non absorbent surface artists can enjoy an endless amount of time creating images Akua can be applied with a wide range of tools including but not limited to brushes brayers sponges Akua Needle Applicators etc Printing with the Pin Press requires a heavier application of ink than when printing with a traditional etching press to compensate for the l...

Page 18: ...ended Gloves Nitrile recommended Ink knife Akua Needle Applicators mark making tools paintbrush Printmaking paper Arnhem 1618 recommended MATERIALS SUGGESTED Akua Modifiers Blending Medium Transparent Base Release Agent An additive monotype is created when ink is applied with a brush brayer etc directly on a plate that is then printed onto paper ...

Page 19: ...ing of your line start on a piece of paper before you draw on plate 2 When using Akua Needle Applicators be sure to check for puddles of ink that could spread with the pressure of the printing process To remove use a piece of smooth lint free tissue to blot excess ink Akua Intaglio 1 When using Akua Intaglio ink add Blending Medium to loosen the ink for brushwork and wash effects For steel angled ...

Page 20: ...Nitrile recommended Rubber brayer Speedball Soft Rubber Brayer recommended Ink knife Mark making tools such as cotton swabs paper towels matboard etc Printmaking paper Arnhem 1618 recommended The subtractive monotype also known as the reductive method or dark field monotype entails rolling up the plate with ink first wiping out the darkened field with tools such as AkuaTM Wiping Fabric rags sticks...

Page 21: ...ng the plate with an even coat Check for density of color by holding the plate up to light and observe the opacity If light shows through add more ink to the plate 2 Create the image by removing ink from the plate using tools such as cotton swabs paper towels sticks a piece of matboard etc ...

Page 22: ...Applicators paint brush etc Akua Modifiers Blending Medium Mag Mix Ink Stiffener Printmaking paper Arnhem 1618 recommended MATERIALS SUGGESTED Akua Modifiers Transparent Base A viscosity monotype is a monotype made with two or more inks more inks with differing viscosities that resist one another when rolled onto a plate Because of their differing viscosities Akua Intaglio and Akua Liquid Pigment ...

Page 23: ...in enough that it drips off the knife TIP Combine Transparent Base and Blending Medium to create a thin transparent resist This allows the color of the paper to come through FOR THICK INK Add AkuaTM Mag Mix to Akua Intaglio Ink The ink should be thick enough that it does not fall off the knife STEPS 1 Make marks on the plate using the thinner ink ...

Page 24: ...ver the marks previously made with the loose ink 3 Because of the difference in viscosity between the loose and thick ink they resist one another on the plate TIP Some ink may offset onto the roller Create a second plate by re rolling the brayer over another plate ...

Page 25: ... out thin blue ink Mark made by wiping away the blue ink Rolled thick yellow ink on top Offset from roller Rolled out thin yellow ink Mark made by wiping away the yellow ink Rolled thick blue ink on top Experiment with different combinations of thick and thin layers ...

Page 26: ...ols Printmaking paper Arnhem 1618 recommended Akua Mag Mix Ink Stiffener Trace Monotype also known as transfer drawing is a direct drawing printmaking technique After inking a plate paper is placed on top of the inky surface Using a pen stick or any other stylus the image is drawn on the back of the paper The pressure of the drawing tool picks up a line of ink on the paper as the pen bears down Tw...

Page 27: ... impression from the marks previously made NOTE For a clean line the ink needs to be stiff This insures that the only ink that will be transferred is ink that is pressed by the mark making tool 5 Negative print The remaining ink on the plate can be printed with the Pin Press on DAMP paper to create a second image NOTE Because trace monotype plates require a thinner application of ink it is probabl...

Page 28: ...ll Soft Rubber Brayer recommended Ink knife Stencils stamps etc Printmaking paper Arnhem 1618 recommended Using Stencils and Stamps allows for the use of supplementary objects in making plates and prints done by laying stencils and textured objects onto the printing plate For stencils there are four ways to create both positive and negative images For stamps there are two ...

Page 29: ...brayer Ink will transfer from the brayer to the open areas on the plate Block out result after printing with the Pin Press 2 Stencil print positive image Use the remaining ink from the block out or roll ink directly onto stencil Place paper on stencil ink side up and roll with Pin Press Stencil print result after printing with the Pin Press ...

Page 30: ... another plate or piece of paper Offset result after rolling directly onto paper 4 Wipe away positive image Roll up Akua Intaglio over a clean plate using a brayer covering the plate with an even coat Place the stencil over the inked plate Using Akua Wiping Fabric or a lint free cloth rub away the ink from the open areas of the stencil Wipe away result after printing with the Pin Press ...

Page 31: ...e stamp by pressing it into the ink Positive result after printing with the Pin Press 2 Remove ink from plate using a clean stamp negative image Roll up Akua Intaglio over the plate using a brayer covering the plate with an even opaque coat With a clean stamp press into the inked plate Negative result after ...

Page 32: ... recommended Gloves Nitrile recommended Rubber brayer Speedball Soft Rubber Brayer recommended Ink knife Printmaking paper Arnhem 1618 recommended A ghost print is a second print of a plate that has already been printed resulting in a lighter impression than the first Using AkuaTM Release Agent allows for a denser ghost print ...

Page 33: ...e plate 2 Roll out Akua Release Agent with a Speedball Soft Rubber Brayer 3 Roll Release Agent over the residual ink on the plate Let sit for 3 5 minutes before printing 4 Second Print ghost print Print ghost with the Pin Press In the supporting image only half of the plate was rolled with Release Agent The darker half of the image was the half that was rolled with Release Agent ...

Page 34: ... etc Akua Wiping Fabric or tarlatan Drypoint is an intaglio process similar to etching but without the use of acids The printmaker scratches directly onto a metal or plastic plate with a sharp pointed tool such as a drypoint scribe or roulette The difference between printing with the Pin Press and an etching press is that the lack of pressure needs to be compensated for by leaving more ink on the ...

Page 35: ...careful not to apply too much pressure which will break down the burr 3 To remove the remaining ink on the surface of the plate use a wiping cloth such as soft tarlatan or Akua Wiping Fabric Bunch the fabric into a ball and wipe in circular motions over the entire plate until the amount of ink you desire is left TIP For a monoprint effect leave some ink on the surface of the plate Then use cotton ...

Page 36: ...34 www AkuaInks com AFTER PRINTING ...

Page 37: ... slightly damp textured cloth works great for cleaning Akua Inks from all surfaces Always make sure that whatever fabric you use is lint free CLEANING UP STORING THE PIN PRESS When not in use store the Pin Press horizontally on the flat side of the crescent shaped handles Do not store vertically as it may throw the brass bushings off balance ...

Page 38: ... print and smooth over with a flat hand be careful not to apply pressure with the tips of your fingers which could leave markings Repeat with another piece of paper as necessary NOTE Occasionally Akua Intaglio produces a slight ink rub off when ink is applied heavily Some printmakers have had success reducing rub off by spraying a clear acrylic non yellowing finish over the print If you choose to ...

Page 39: ...rocess First the background color is printed on Arches 88 fine art 100 cotton printmaking paper as an 8 x 8 square with Epson archival pigmented inks Second this background is overprinted with a Solarplate relief plate disc center with concentric ring using an Akua Intaglio ink for the foreground color which is then hand pulled using the Pin Press The Akua Pin Press is really a great gadget for pr...

Page 40: ...m Certain papers printed damp will not dry flat To flatten prints press them between blotters with a heavy board placed on top for weight Change blotters periodically over 24 hours Fantasy of Feathers 18 x 24 Additive Monotype Printed with Akua IntaglioTM Inks and the Akua Pin Press by Melody Knight Leary ...

Page 41: ...otters glassine or newsprint paper as Akua Inks will not harden and stick to another sheet of paper However when storing prints we would recommend acid free paper Your Local Traffic Report 18 x 24 Additive Monotype Printed with Akua IntaglioTM Inks and the Akua Pin Press by Melody Knight Leary ...

Page 42: ...40 www AkuaInks com TROUBLESHOOTING ...

Page 43: ...lat Solution Check press bed see pgs 2 3 To check to see if a surface is flat lay your Pin Press down flat on the press bed Next take a sheet of paper and try to insert the paper between the press and the glass surface If the paper slips through there is a dip in the glass Flip the glass over and check again ...

Page 44: ... the plate up to a light source to see if the plate is coated evenly before printing Problem Texture of paper comes through on print Cause The paper is too grainy or the ink application is too thin Solution Dampen the paper before printing use smoother paper or add a heavier application of ink NOTE When printing with an etching press the ink should sit flush with the surface of the plate With the ...

Page 45: ...plate Use plates that have a diagonal that is shorter than the Pin Press Problem Texture appears on print e g large spots of ink where a flat area of ink should be Cause Too much ink on the brayer and or uneven rolling with the brayer Solution When applying ink to the brayer make sure the ink is smooth and flat not raised and rippled before rolling onto the plate ...

Page 46: ...Using an etching press these pieces of dust are less noticeable because they are pushed into the paper With the Pin Press the dust particles show with halos around them because they are higher than the level of the plate therefore preventing the ink from touching the paper around them Solution Before printing hold the plate at an angle to see the dust particles that have fallen onto the plate Use ...

Page 47: ...y Make sure plate is clean and dry prior to printing Problem Lines appear on the plate print Cause Offset marks from the brayer hitting the edge of the plate are transferred when rolling up line can continually offset onto the plate Solution Be careful not to roll over the edge of the plate when rolling up Use a light table when rolling up or hold the plate up to a light source to see if these lin...

Page 48: ...w AkuaInks com customerservice speedballart com 2015 by Speedball Art Products LLC All rights reserved This catalog may only be reproduced with the expressed written consent of Speedball Art Products LLC Akua Intaglio and Akua Liquid Pigment are trademarks Channel Akua Printshop ...

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