I will explain the way I work. But also provide links to sites and people working in a different or a more similar way.
I've not invented anything, I just put together a way of working and testing from all the information that is out there. Having a background in photography, etching, screen printing and a bit of copper photogravure helped a lot.

Friday, 27 March 2015

The vacuum frame, or not..

 Rotating vacuum frame, often used by screen printers.

Having a vacuum frame makes things easy, but it is not a necessity. Exposure units often come with a vacuum frame, they are very useful, certainly for the bigger format polymer plates. But there are other, and cheaper solutions.

Exposure unit with vacuum frame.



Small polymer plates can be exposed, fixed between two glass sheets using clamps.



Or you can use  a board, foam backing and a heavy glass sheet.



you can use a contact printing frame.



There a several diy projects out there to make your own vacuum frame. Here are a few:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V22KWUwIn5A
https://www.flickr.com/photos/48428440@N04/sets/72157623645144972/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WJn5YFANxU


The one thing you should accomplish is a very good contact between your positive film and the polymer plate. Otherwise, you will lose the fine detail, and sharp contours. 



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