Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Sun Sensitive Paper And Other Means Of Printing

By Cara Torres


There are are various printing techniques where sunlight is a critical factor. These processes are called sun printing, which makes use of sun sensitive paper in all of the endeavors. Another common thing they all have in common would be their use of sunlight as a fixative or developing agent.

There are several techniques that can be used for these processes. One such technique is called cyanotype. It is also known as blueprinting and it happens to be the oldest non silver photographic process in existence. This technique involves the exposure of materials that have been treated with solutions of potassium ferricynide and ferric ammonium citrate to the sun, which is a UV source.

Positive and negative images can be achieved by the blocking of UV light from the material that has been sensitized. After being thoroughly rinsed using water, the paper will still retain the image. Once it dries, the parts that were exposed may turn a shade of blue as the rest of the parts will stay more or less the same.

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.

These are dyes that are suspended in leuco form and will appear colorless until the moment comes when they are exposed to the UV . The usage therefore resembles the cyanotype, although they have notable differences in them as well. Primarily, these are used on textiles and will exist in full ranges 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.

Another method of sun printing will refer to the photographic process that makes use of potassium dichromate. This is known to produce a negative plate for lithographic printing. A film of gelatine is used by this process and is to be spread all over a surface that is flat and rigid.

Potassium dichromate in dilute solutions can be used for the coating of the surface before it is dried in certain conditions that have low brightness. The treated layer has to be secured and in tight contact, especially with translucent positives as its going to be exposed to the sun for a period of thirty minutes. The potassium dichromate and the light will, at this point, cause the gelatine to tan.

The plate can be developed by washing it with warm water and having the untanned gelatine removed. After it is dry, the relief print is now revealed on the plate itself. This surface can be inked and then printed if a mass production of identical prints is needed. These, along with sun sensitive paper is all that is needed to accomplish these techniques.




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