Baren Digest              Monday, 20 January 2003      Volume 22 : Number 2101


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From: G Wohlken <blueman#pantek.com>
Date: Sun, 19 Jan 2003 14:48:22 +0000
Subject: [Baren 20481] Washi - Shiney and rough, or  matte and smooth -- which side to print on? 

More questions about "New Hosho".  I looked through the archives to find 
everyone suggesting the "smooth" side for printing hanga.  When I look 
at this paper in the light, the rougher side is more pearly and shiney, 
which seems to indicate that it has more sizing on it.  The smooth side 
looks matte.  So, since it's more shiney,  do I print on the rougher 
side anyway?  

Gayle in Ohio




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From: "Gilda Zimmerling" <gemzeditionz#earthlink.net>
Date: Mon, 20 Jan 2003 07:10:14 +0900 (JST)
Subject: [Baren 20482] Date: Sun, 19 Jan 2003 14:31:44 -0800 

Well since everyone else is sharing . Here goes.  I've been
scared to share the fact that I was working on Exchange 15 blocks
struggling to work out the multi colors, powered paints mixing,
buying the right paper, etc.. etc.. and then the other day
right before I was about to finish carving so I could
start printing, Julio posted all the rules for this exchange on
Baren and It seems I had been working on the "wrong size". Help!
So I went back to the drawing board and started over. I am happy
to say that I should be printing by Tuesday and mailing out
overnight next week. so please remember this is my first multi
color print in moka hanga and I have only done one other multi
color print in oil base. All and all its been an experience.


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From: Barbara Mason <barbaramason45#yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 19 Jan 2003 18:44:25 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [Baren 20483] #15 pain and agony 



This had been fun, all of us suffering togther. I am a better
printer than a carver, but today had a problem I have not
encounterd before.

I am using sumi ink for the black and it offset onto the next
block when I printed the second  color. It did not seem to be off
setting to the papers layered between the damp prints. I solved
it by wiping the plate with a damp rag after each print which was
actually very fast. However, the question remains, why did this
happen? It does not appear that I used too much ink....I am using
the very expensive Yamaguchi paper and it prints like a
dream....There is absolutely no bleeding of ink. All I can think
of is that being such a small edition I am printing too fast,
that is not letting the prints set long enough. Has anyone else
had this problem? I noticed the sumi ink did seem quite a bit
thicker than the other pigment, it sort of got thicker as I was
printing. Hummmmmmmm. any answers out there????Dave, what did I
do wrong here? I did not have the blocks too wet....but maybe I
used too much ink, although it did not seem like I did. It is a
mystery to me, I have not used the sumi ink that is so solid
before, only the liquid. Could that have something to do with it?
It mixed with water very easily and seemed fine to work with.

Gayle, I always print on the side that feels smoothest. I have no
idea if this is correct, but it works for me. Even damp I can
feel the difference between the smooth and rough sides.

Best to all,

Barbara



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From: David Bull <davebull#woodblock.com>
Date: Mon, 20 Jan 2003 12:49:21 +0900
Subject: [Baren 20484] Re: #15 pain and agony 

Barbara wrote:

> I am using sumi ink for the black and it offset onto the next block 
> when I printed the second color.


The usual practice is to wait a 'while' after printing the key block 
before moving on to the colour printing. I usually do the key block one 
evening, then let things rest overnight; the colour printing starts the 
following morning.


> I noticed the sumi ink did seem quite a bit thicker than the other 
> pigment


The black will transfer more if you have mixed it quite thick, and/or 
used a lot of paste. There is no hard and fast rule, but key block 
printing generally uses a fairly thin black, and little (if any) paste.

In extreme cases, where you have really lathered on the sumi and it just 
keeps transferring no matter how long you wait, then just dry out the 
paper once completely, wait a bit, then re-wet it (from the back) and 
continue from there ...

Dave


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From: "Bea Gold" <bnj50#earthlink.net>
Date: Sun, 19 Jan 2003 23:49:12 -0800
Subject: [Baren 20485] Re: #15 pain and agony 

That happened to one of my prints - paper I had sized myself.  It ruined a
whole batch of prints before I realized what was happening.  It bled through
to other sheets.  Now I print the key block last and it seems to have solved
that problem.  It has been very much fun reading all the moku hanga
questions and comments.  I will be using the expensive Yamaguchi paper for
the first time and am both excited and worried that I'll do something to
ruin the edition.  I figure like all good hand work there has to be one
mistake to make sure it doesn't look machine made but just a nice little
one, please.  Bea


Barbara wrote:

> I am using sumi ink for the black and it offset onto the next block
> when I printed the second color.





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End of Baren Digest V22 #2101
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