Please follow these guidelines to ensure safe, efficient and economical running of the etching room.
Bags should be stowed under the table. Protective clothing should be worn. Wear goggles, gloves and masks where instructed.
Punctuality- Latecomers will not be admited to the workshop
Permits and Signing in
You need to have a permit signed by a print tutor to use the print workshop. A day permit for during the day should be signed and left with technician. Night time permits are left with the porters but a copy must be left with technican before five o clock. You must sign in and out of studio
Ordering plates –
Plate orders are processed on Wednesdays orders need to be passed by your tutor and signed before 5pm on Wednesday. There is a limit to the metal available so size should be carefully considered and discussed with your tutor before ordering. You need to have your order signed off by tutor.
Clean areas
The area where the etching presses are is to be kept as clean as possible. Inky gloves should be left in the ink up area and hands should be spotless before handling paper or the blankets.
Preparation
Making sure you have everything prepared before you start to work leads to a more efficient use of the print area.
Paper should be torn down to size and stacked close to the sink with your name in pencil before you begin to ink up.
Acid room
Great care should be taking in the acid room. Do not crowd. There should be no more than three in the room at a time. Protective clothing, goggles and gloves should be worn. Ferric chloride is used for etching copper nitric acid is used for steel. Time your plates and rinse well after taking from the acid bath
Protective clothingAprons must be worn while working in the print room. Gloves should be worn when cleaning and inking plates. Goggles and masks should be worn in the acid room.
Paper
Proofing paper, tissue and newsprint are supplied in the studio for etching purposes only. Use only what you need tear down sheets if printing small works. Use old newspaper for wiping plates. Use recycling bins for clean paper. You will need to purchase your own paper for finished work
Scrim/Muslin
Reuse the scrim it can be used for many prints especially when using dark colours. Store after use on shelf.
Inks
Only put out what you need. Take ink from the top of the tin in a circular manner. Share colours when working in a group especially the black. If you are mixing up specific colours you need for an edition store in small containers with lids
Presses
The pressure of the presses is set by technician and should not be changed by students; if you need to change pressure ask staff. Never run anything experimental through press without consulting staff beforehand. The blankets should be kept as clean as possible and should be handled with spotless hands or paper fingers. Do not spin wheel of press when printing.
