Nice smelling print process
Charlie Whitaker
slightly sweet oil paint smell, seems to come on matte paper ...
slightly dull organic-looking colours. Almost a screen-print process in
appearance.
Is it good for reasonable accuracy in photo reproduction?
If not, is there something a bit like it which is accurate? I'll trade
off some of the nice smell for better colour fidelity and sharpness ...
In fact, I'll look at anything doesn't reek of toxicity, in the way that
Wired magazine does - makes me nauseous.
Once I know what it is I want, I'll need to find a printer who can do it
...
Thanks,
Charlie.
--
Charlie Whitaker
London, UK
Kenneth Alan Boyd Ramsay
On Sat, 13 Jul 2002, Charlie Whitaker wrote:
> Can anyone put a name to what I'm thinking of: a print process with a
> slightly sweet oil paint smell, seems to come on matte paper ...
> slightly dull organic-looking colours. Almost a screen-print process in
> appearance.
There are many similarities between paints and printing inks. The main
difference is the inks are thicker (more viscous). Talk to your printer -
he should have numerous samples you can sniff (cautiously - you aren't
looking for a solvent "buzz", are you?).
The "slightly sweet oil paint smell" you describe sounds like an alkyde
oil paint. The "Stoddard Solvent" or turpentine used to thin it could
temporarily disguise the smell, until the solvent evaporates. A classic
example is "Boiled Linseed Oil". Other oils have somewhat different
odors. Caution - they have a tendency for spontaneous combustion.
Such an ink could be used for screen printing, probably slightly thinned
with a solvent. Matte paper would tend to absorb quite a bit of ink, so
a thinned ink, or even paint would do. That might be acceptable for
short runs, but a drying time on the order of 4 to 6 hours before it
stopped being tacky and a week before the chemical setting was
essentially complete would be awkward.
> Is it good for reasonable accuracy in photo reproduction?
So-so (better for solid colors), lithography would be better.
> If not, is there something a bit like it which is accurate? I'll trade
> off some of the nice smell for better colour fidelity and sharpness ...
Yes - see what your printer recommends. There may be some limitations on
solid colors available, but photolithography blends standard colors (Cyan,
Yellow, Magenta, and blacK - CYMK) to represent the full spectrum of
color.
> In fact, I'll look at anything doesn't reek of toxicity, in the way that
> Wired magazine does - makes me nauseous.
There are two potential sources of smell. One is the base binder. This
is the smell of the un-thinned ink, and (to a lesser extent) after
essentially all thinner has evaporated from the dried ink. The other is
the thinner. If the ink sets chemically, like the alkyde paint reacting
with the oxygen in the air, this odor can persist for a week or longer.
> Once I know what it is I want, I'll need to find a printer who can do it
Some of the nastier chemical smells, are due to the faster-setting
processes, for example, chemicals that set instantly upon exposure to
ultraviolet light. (Great for large magazine runs!)
Boyd Ramsay