non-toxic process

The unique quality of the photopolymer films used today is that they are sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) light. The film ImagOn, used by this artist, is etched by placing it in soda ash. When the film is exposed to UV it is hardened thus slowing down the “etching” process. The most common way to create an image is to create a positive image on an acetate transparency. This can be accomplished by drawing directly on the transparency or by using a copy machine or a digital printer to transfer the image to the transparency.

The transparency is then placed over a plate, that has been covered with the photopolymer film, and exposed to UV light. (More recently an alternative process has been developed by printing the image directly to the photopolymer plate and then exposing the plate to UV light.) The plate is then immersed in a soda ash solution. Thus where the UV light is held back by the darker areas of the image, the film remains sensitive to the soda ash and is etched. Once the plate with the film is processed, an intaglio print is created using the timeless method of inking the plate, wiping the excess ink off, placing the plate on a hand operated press, and putting a piece of damp paper on top of the plate. As the roller on the press exerts pressure on the paper, the ink on the plate is absorbed by the paper and a print is created.