{"id":3136,"date":"2015-10-25T15:51:47","date_gmt":"2015-10-25T15:51:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sinclairashman.com\/?p=3136"},"modified":"2026-04-16T07:25:02","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T07:25:02","slug":"print-stories-metallics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sinclairashman.com\/?p=3136","title":{"rendered":"Print Stories: metallics"},"content":{"rendered":"

For a little while now I’ve been experimenting with the idea\u00a0of working\u00a0imitation gold leaf (also known as Schlag Metal or Dutch Metal) into my prints.\u00a0See this previous post on\u00a0post-print embellishments<\/a>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I’ve also returned to printing with metallic inks. Last year, I tried this with some\u00a0fairly rough textured plates, thinking that this would\u00a0print quite well. It didn’t. Compared to almost every other colour inks, metallics inks just don’t seem to have enough\u00a0density\u00a0to print with a decent amount of definition. Recently though, I’ve read quite a lot of blog posts by other printmakers, who have wrestled with the same issue. One tip suggested mixing the gold with a small amount of yellow ochre or diarylide yellow \u2013 one that would enhance the body of the colour, without altering it too much. It worked!<\/p>\n

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‘Seam’ \u2013 the plate was made using interior filler<\/em><\/p>\n

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‘Seam’\u00a0detail<\/em><\/p>\n

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I also applied the technique to the print\u00a0above (Disc IV). Here, sepia, yellows and gold were all used to\u00a0define the plate’s ridges. I suppose the danger is that I could start using metallics\u00a0too much. The trick is to only use them\u00a0sparingly, on plates\u00a0which are already highly textured and ‘feel’ as if they will benefit from that richness of colour.<\/p>\n

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‘Disc IV’ \u2013 detail<\/i><\/p>\n

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Untitled<\/i><\/p>\n

The reds in the as yet untitled image above was printed in the usual fashion through the press. After drying, I used a thin brush to paint a special adhesive into the blank centre channel.\u00a0After a few minutes, this becomes tacky, allowing me to sprinkle the scholar metal onto the line of adhesive. You can see practice runs I made in the picture below.<\/p>\n

\"Imitation<\/p>\n

As previously mentioned, I\u00a0also\u00a0have some gold gilding wax to play\u00a0around with. As this is much richer than the inks I use, next time I might even try mixing it into my colours before inking a plate.<\/p>\n

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Find all my posts\u00a0about Art Printworks stories on Twitter at:\u00a0#artprintstories<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n