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Message 1
From: James G Mundie
Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2004 13:25:10 -0400
Subject: [Baren 26289] Re: reduction block
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Barbara Mason wrote:

> I am on color 5 of 6 on my block for #22...
> I have had a tiny problem with registration...I am sure I was
> careful dropping the paper, but on color 4 I had about 6 prints where the
> registration was off a tiny bit....
> Now the real problem is on some of the prints I have a tiny shadow.
> It actually looks good, but impossible to control... At first I
> thought it was the way I was inking the block, but I am now
> thinking it is pressure and maybe the block is actually compressing a bit.
> I am printing with a piece of mat board, no blankets. By color 5
> the block will have been printed over 300 times through the press.

Barbara,

It may be one of two things: either compression of the block itself (as
you suggest), or stretching of the paper. Remember that since this is a
reduction print, every new color block has less printing surface than the
color block before it. Therefore, the pressure from the press is
magnified many times as those smaller areas accept the pressure from
above. The paper is likely to 'give' in the areas where the pressure is
greatest (i.e., around the smallest 'islands' of printing area), but you
also run the risk of crushing the block itself.

You may lessen this effect by slightly backing of the pressure on each
subsequent pass.

Hope this helps.

Jim

________________________________________
James Mundie
Philadelphia PA, U.S.A.
Prodigies: Anomalous Humans by James G. Mundie
http://www.missioncreep.com/mundie/images/

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Message 2
From: Barbara Mason
Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2004 12:06:26 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [Baren 26290] reduction block
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Thanks, Jim. I did think of the block actually compressing and think this must be the answer.....but not the paper stretching. Both of these problems are small and no one but me will probably even notice...but I can sure see it. I will back off the pressure. The matboard I was printing with also compresses as the printing goes on, but one would think eventually everything would be as flat and as stretched as it could get. Next time I do one of these, I think I will try to stretch the paper first by running it through the press a few times. I think this is common practice but I have never done it, especially not on a print that is so small.

I remember Dave wanting to flatten his paper to get a smooth surface, I wonder if he ever has problems with the paper stretching over the time of the printing. Dave, ! have you had this problem with your printing??? I know it is different with a baren but think you must use almost as much pressure as a press.

Amazingly, counting the prints this morning there are 64...so they must have run away in the night! HA.
Barbara

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Message 3
From: David Bull
Date: Sat, 23 Oct 2004 07:42:54 +0900
Subject: [Baren 26291] Re: reduction block
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> I remember Dave wanting to flatten his paper to get a smooth surface,
> I wonder if he ever has problems with the paper stretching over the
> time of the printing. Dave, ! have you had this problem with your
> printing??? I know it is different with a baren but think you must use
> almost as much pressure as a press.

Yes, I do have to be careful about not stretching the paper while
printing certain types of impression. If I bear down too much with the
baren, especially on a colour area near the edge of the paper, the
paper can indeed become stretched a bit there, making subsequent
registration difficult.

I have to keep the pressure moderate, by keeping the paper soft enough
that it doesn't need to be 'smashed' in place. It also helps to do the
baren rubbing in varied motions - _both_ clockwise and
counter-clockwise - to avoid having the paper creep and stretch during
the rubbing.

None of this has anything to do with the pre-pressing that I am now
doing on the paper before printing certain designs (of which the
current print - a kuchi-e reproduction - is one). The main purpose of
that is to calendar the surface of the sheet, and the small etching
press I bought (from Dick Blick ... although I see that the press
itself is imported from Brazil) is working wonderfully for that job.
And in fact, I will be using it again this afternoon; after doing the
final colour on this batch of 120 prints, I will be running them
through the press as a last step before drying, to remove all traces of
embossing and indentation.

That's unusual for me, because I usually _like_ to see good embossment
on a print, but for this particular print, which has lines far more
delicate than anything I have ever carved before, the embossment is
'getting in the way' of actually seeing the design lines clearly. In
this case anyway, flat is better.

Dave

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Message 4
From: "marilynn smih"
Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2004 15:58:51 -0700
Subject: [Baren 26292] RE: Baren Digest (old) V29 #2829
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Michael, I too use the Power Grip tools and am very happy with them and the
price. One other source not mentioned is our own Baren Mall. If you want
higher quality Japanese tools, Japanese papers, pigments, a Baren or
Japanese style brushes it is a wonderful source. With that said I want to
say thank you to Barbara Mason who got my package from Japan to me so
quickly. I am thrilled to have the paper and new brushes and a few more
pigment packets before I head out of the country where I will not be able to
get mail. Barbara runs our Baren Mall and works with our Japanese suppliers
to help us get these hard to find supplies. And, with orders from within we
build up a small bit of income, I believe, which can help with our various
exchanges and maybe our next summit. If you get into the Hanga style of
printing you will want to use this source as you will find the supplies of
very good quality.
Marilynn

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Message 5
From: Barbara Mason
Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2004 16:25:30 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [Baren 26293] baren mall
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Marilynn,
Thanks for the plug...I do not always do such a good job and am sure at times there are a few mad customers...but all in all it goes fairly smoothly.

The real thanks goes to Sadako who translates all the orders for Matsumura-san and handles all the translations of any communications if there is a problem. Sadako does this for free, out of kindness to us and because of her friendship with David in Japan. The mall would be in sad shape with out her kind help and support. We owe her a huge debt. THANK YOU SADAKO!!!!!

We have a line on getting the cases for the Baren exchanges made in Canada...I will be publishing info in a week or so....things are looking up! I am pretty excited about this as it has been a worry, not to have been able to send them off to those who want them. I think we will have two sizes for sale individually on the mall all the time, but of course the cases for the exchanges will still be sent to the coordinator and arrive to you with your prints!
Best to all,
Barbara - mall manager

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Message 6
From: "Michael Horvath"
Date: Sat, 23 Oct 2004 08:31:39 -0400
Subject: [Baren 26294] Re: Baren Digest (old) V29 #2829
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Thanks for the recommendation Marilynn. I've been "browsing" the Mall already!

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