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Message 1
From: Rosposfe # aol.com
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2008 02:50:12 GMT
Subject: [Baren 37450] RE: blotchy prints
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Thanks for all the helpful ideas...a few clues have emerged from all the
suggestions.
I have been printing on a mix of McClains papers: Masa Dosa, Torinoko
light wt., Shin Torinoko, Gampi (the only unsized one) and nishinouchi. I have
a pretty hard time sometimes telling which side the paper is sized on unless
one side is very different especially when they've been cut to small sizes.
So it is very possible that some were printed on the unsized side of the
otherwise sized paper.

I use homemade rice paste (sushi rice boiled and stirred until a
translucent thick gel/liquid can be strained off. Works great and I don't get too
many brush marks BUT sometimes the 2nd/3rd day it loses its thickness and gets
watery again....it was definitely watery and a bit old when I printed the vases.
BAD PASTE?

I carefully mix a small amount of color in a dish and add rice paste to it
to get a thin, tinted paste that I add o the board and brush out with the
brush. The blotchyness looks like printing on blotter paper and seems to get
better with later printings. Even though I do a good 10 -12 on newsprint and
proof papers first. Once I get going I use very little water and if anything
the blocks get a bit too dry
(but by then usually the printing seems to be better).
Thanks again for all the suggestions. I'll go back to the printing
bench and try changing a few variables.
Andrew.

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Message 2
From: Graham Scholes
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2008 05:32:27 GMT
Subject: [Baren 37451] Re: blotchy prints
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Rosposfe#aol.com wrote:

> Thanks for all the helpful ideas...a few clues have emerged from all
> the suggestions.
> I have been printing on a mix of McClains papers: Masa Dosa,
> Torinoko light wt., Shin Torinoko, Gampi (the only unsized one) and
> nishinouchi. I have a pretty hard time sometimes telling which side
> the paper is sized on unless one side is very different especially
> when they've been cut to small sizes.
> So it is very possible that some were printed on the unsized side
> of the otherwise sized paper.

I can advise you on the use of Torinoko light and Shin Torinoko....
not a good paper to use other than for priming the plates. If you do
use Shin Torinoke....(did you feel the earth move!), it must be soaked
over night and excess water blotted off before using.

> it was definitely watery and a bit old when I printed the vases.
> BAD PASTE ?

Ah ha.... I think I brought that up... How on earth did it get watery?

> Once I get going I use very little water and if anything the blocks
> get a bit too dry
> (but by then usually the printing seems to be better).

Warning lights just came on.... When I saw that blochiness on the
print it reminded me of the dreaded runback when painting in
watercolour.... My money is on the fact that you had far too much
moisture, pigment/water, on the plate. When I print I have what I
call a dull satin sheen to the surface of the plate.... which is a
tell tale sign, that I am gonna get a masterpiece print..... (dream
on Scholes)

Keep us posted.

Regards
Graham

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Message 3
From: Blog Manager
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:54:28 GMT
Subject: [Baren 37452] Baren Member blogs: Update Notification
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This is an automatic update message being sent to [Baren] by the forum blog software.

The following new entries were found on the listed printmaker's websites during the past 24 hours. (54 sites checked, five minutes before 9:00 AM Eastern time)

*****************

Site Name: Woodblock RoundTable

Author: Dave Bull
Item: Price increases ...
http://woodblock.com/roundtable/archives/2008/11/price_increases.html

*****************

Site Name: Woodblock Dreams

Author: Annie B
Item: Abhaya Mudra - The Upraised Hand
http://woodblockdreams.blogspot.com/2008/11/abhaya-mudra-upraised-hand.html

*****************

A list of the sites/blogs currently being checked is available at this address:
http://barenforum.org/blog/rss/blog_main_urls.txt

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