acetate

vsulzer26 · Joined: 09 May 2009 Posts: 1

i'm looking to do some drypoint on acetate. I live in a small town and the art store doesn't carry acetate. will sheets made for overhead projectors work, you know the kind you write on with marker... didn't know if that would be too thin or not.

gggraph · Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 9:59 am Post subject: Re - acetate

I don't know much about drypoint, but I thought it was not unlike pencil in that you needed a substrate that had some sort of tooth to it.

GA (Wet Media) Acetate has a thin gelatin coating which allows water-based media to take on it. To the best of my knowledge OHP film does not, although it will take solvent-based markers. Obviously, there's also a size limit - OHP film is A4 only wheras GA Acetate used to come in up to A1.

You could try Dean's Art, Riot Art or Eckersley's - they may do mail order. You may have to contact them as it's not listed on their web site (but most things aren't)

Cheers

Grant

Steve Gray · Joined: 17 Aug 2008 Posts: 1569 Location: Geelong

Drypoint generally is about creating a burr (a scratch on the plate with a raised edge) so the ink sticks to the burr, rather than an etching where the ink is in the lines and pressed out.

So... if the acetate can hold a burr, then go for it. (I doubt it though.)

Chrissy D · Joined: 12 Jan 2006 Posts: 1048 Location: Queensland

OHP sheets are too thin, but if you use some spray adhesive to both sides and glue onto a 3mm thick sheet of cardboard it will allow you to make a deeper burr. The pate with buckle/curve a little but when you use the press to print that wont matter.

Acetate is good because it is that bit thicker.

You can also use thin sheets of aluminium. What at TAFE in my printmaking class we got ours from the local newspaper as they throw the old news plates away at the end of the day.

Be creative. Think of other ways.

jet_james · Joined: 30 Aug 2006 Posts: 36 Location: Capricorn Coast

I use 'pasteboard' to create my dry point etchings and collagraphs. I source it from Spot light in the craft section, and its cheap to purchase. Its the same material as cereal boxes, with a plastic glossy film protecting the card.

Mojo · Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Posts: 20 Location: Melbourne

Jet James - what sort of press do you use?

jet_james · Joined: 30 Aug 2006 Posts: 36 Location: Capricorn Coast

Eug · Joined: 15 Jun 2010 Posts: 206 Location: Melbourne

Hi, my TAFE class has just completed our first works using drypoint. Some of us used the acetate sheets, and some used "old fashioned" copper plates. I guess choice of materials is pretty wide open as long as you get the burr for the ink to get into and under. I think if I pursue drypoint I would use copper plates, as there seems to be more potential to re-work areas and further develop the plate. But we're doing hard and soft ground etchings now, so it's fun and games in the acid room!