8/16/2013

Sun Sensitive Paper And Other Means Of Printing

By Cara Torres


Sunlight is often a critical factor for several printing techniques. Sun printing, as it is popularly called, can be done in several methods and with different tools and items, one of them being sun sensitive paper. One common thing they share is the utilization of sunlight as a developing agent or a fixative.

There are a lot of techniques to utilize for specific processes. Among these would be the cyanotype, which is alternatively called blueprinting. It is also the oldest photographic process that is non silver. Having the materials exposed and treated with solutions that are potassium ferricynide in origin together with ferric ammonium citrate towards the sun is what this process entails.

Blocking UV light from sensitized material can achieve positive images as well as negative. It will likely retain the image even after a thorough rinsing with water. After it has dried up, the exposed part may turn a particular shade of blue as the remaining parts remain the same color by default.

Another way is to make use of a specialized type of vat dye known as Inkodye. This can be used for this process due to its light sensitive quality. They differ from other vat dyes since they do not make use of oxygen in order to develop the color. Instead, these Inkodyes are developed by the light.

When it becomes exposed to UV, it improves upon its originally colorless form from when it was still suspended in that leuco form. It will resemble cyanotype in terms of usage but there are some notable differences between them as well. Mainly, these are utilized on textiles and exist in a full range of colors.

The time for exposure may vary from either three minutes to as much as fifteen. It will depend on the desired color and the level of intensity displayed by the light. After exposure, the material has to be washed using water and soap so the dye can be removed from the unexposed areas.

There is yet more methods when it comes to sun printing. This one refers to a photographic process that will utilize potassium dichromate. It is known to create a negative plate when it comes to lithographic printing. Films of gelatine will be used in this process and it will be spread over a flat and rigid surface.

Potassium dichromate in a dilute solution is usable for coating the surface before it can be dried in a condition with low brightness. The gelatine layer needs to be secure and in tight contact with with translucent positives since its to be exposed to sunlight for about thirty minutes. The light and potassium dichromate will, at this point, tan the gelatine

Removing and washing out the untanned gelatine with the use of warm water can allow development for the plate. Once it is dry, on the plate will be the revealed relief print. The surface has the capacity to be inked and then printed should there be a need to produce a mass amount. Sun sensitive paper can be considered just one tool within these various techniques that will require tons of effort.




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