printing on blotter paper
I wanted to experiment with printing on blotter paper last night so I ran some prints on my proofing press.
The goal was to try to get a deep impression which is the topic of much debate between old and new school.
When I printed dry I was able to get a decent debossing but needed a LOT of effort to crank the press. So much so that I won’t do it again. lol
I then dampened the paper slightly by rubbing a damp paper towel over both sides until the paper was pliable.
This time I needed much less effort to crank the press and the debossing was actually much deeper. I didn’t have to use much ink either. I was pretty proud of myself actually.
However… this morning when I took a look at the print again to get my ego boost for the morning I noticed that the debossing was much less pronounced.
I guess the blotter paper expands when damp and so the impression appears much deeper but when it dries, it contracts and you loose some of that.
Has anyone noticed that happening when dampening other papers or is that something more common to blotter paper. Hence the name, blotter. :)
Thanks.
keithcorcoran
I suspect that most folks printing on blotter paper are not going to be dampening it. I don’t have experience in this regard but I do dampen most papers I print on and cannot say that impression changes significantly during dry down, if at all. Theoretically, it should tighten and be crisper.
Gerald
http://BielerPress.blogspot.com
keithcorcoran
I suspect that most folks printing on blotter paper are not going to be dampening it. I don’t have experience in this regard but I do dampen most papers I print on and cannot say that impression changes significantly during dry down, if at all. Theoretically, it should tighten and be crisper.
Gerald
http://BielerPress.blogspot.com
Hello keithcorcoran,
You are right to refrain from making a print that requires “a LOT of effort to crank the press,” or even more than a little effort, especially if it’s a flatbed cylinder press. You will damage your press.
I’ve printed on Arches 88, which is unsized as I assume blotter paper is, and so absorbs water like a sponge, literally. I didn’t notice a change in impression as the paper dried, but I was aiming to go only about a quarter of the way into the paper. I did, however, definitely notice the change that Gerald mentioned. The print got tighter and crisper, which was a good thing since I was on a deadline and my paper was too damp. The print straight off the press was unacceptable, but drying made it just barely passable.
Barbara