OUGD504 - Primary Research: Embossing/Photo-Etching

As part of the timetable we were required to attend a photo etching & embossing/debossing induction and workshop. This allows us to see the process which is gone through to create metal plates used for these processes, and allows us to see some of the outcomes which have been created through these processes.
The first thing that happened was that we were shown various examples of plates used for these processes and the outcomes of these plates. We were also given a list of things to remember when doing these processes:

1. Don't use material which is too thick as the paper will not sink into it properly - it will around the edges but the middle will be a shallow dip
2. The material we are printing onto must be softer than the material used to hold the design
3. Images should be silhouettes. This is a process which works better with less detailed images
4. Type used shouldn't be a less pt size than 10 otherwise it is more likely to go wrong and be hard to read at any less
5. The copper plates take 7 hours to be completed so it is a good idea to create this in the morning
6. The copper plate must be flipped around half way through this 7 hour process when in the solution
7. Embossing is best done with a copper plate as it is thinner and can make sharper detail
8. Debossing/indentation is best done with a laser cutter as it is faster.

Examples of plates & outcomes:

Step by step through preparing the copper plate:

1. Sand down the copper plate until smooth - gets rid of all imperfections and makes a smoother transaction
2. After sanding, the plate needs to be degreased in the sink. This gets rid of all debris and allows you to see if there are any imperfections
3. Blot the plate dry with newsprint
4. Cover the plate with light sensitive film - this has three sides, a frosty side, a protective layer & the exposed layer. The frosty side is removed & the film is placed on the plate.
5. Place the plate & film onto a sheet of newsprint & put it through the press. When at the other side twist it 90º and run it back through.
6. Take the plate to the lightbox & expose it with the image to transfer it on. 8 light units are required at this stage
7. Make a solution on 10g of Sodium Carbonate to 1L of water. Do about three litres at an average temp of around 24ºc
8. Remove the top layer of the film & place in the solution. Run a sponge over the plate every 30 seconds to get rid of the excess film
9. When finished, dry it in the screen room quickly and expose again in the lightbox
10. When dry, tape up the back of the plate and attach it to a handle
11. Place the plate into the acid & rotate it at 3&1/2 hours otherwise the design will be lopsided
12. When the plate is finished, to emboss you put the plate and a wad of newsprint with your chosen stock into the hydraulic press
13. This press creates all the pressure needed to give you a clean emboss

I found these processes interesting and I will experiment in them, but I don't see myself using these processes much in the future.