the art and process of photogravure
What is Photogravure?
“Making a Photogravure is like getting into a time machine,” says Susan. “We use modern cameras and software to capture and edit images, leverage 19th century discoveries to expose and transfer the image to copperplate, and 15th century press technology and oil-based inks to produce hand-pulled prints. Every print produced through this process will vary because it is a work made by hand, and is therefore an original in its own right.”
So, What is a Photogravure?
Photogravure is a 19th century process that etches a photograph onto copper plate, which is then printed on a traditional etching press. The resulting images are valued for their deep shadows, luminous highlights, and wide tonal range.
Like all intaglio printmaking, photogravure plates are inked by hand and each image in the edition is printed individually. Because the printing process is manual, there are subtle differences between images. Due to these differences, each image in an edition is an original in its own right.
Creating A Photogravure
For this demonstration, I am using an image of an Artichoke Thistle by photographer Denise Fuson, of Baton Rouge, LA.
Start to finish, creating a photogravure consists of seven stages:
1. Image capture and processing in software
2. Printing image onto transparent film using inkjet printer
3. Image exposure onto tissue
4. Tissue lamination to copper plate
5. Plate drying and preparation for etching
6. Etching
7. Printing
Part of Stage 1 is simple: take a picture. The technology you use to capture an image is flexible. The technology required for processing the image in software, however, requires an entirely separate explanation on its own. There is also an aesthetic component that is subjective - Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Stage 2 is printing to an inkjet printer, which most everyone reading this page has done. We have converted our printer to black inks for printing images onto Pictorico film for the photogravure process. Epson explains how to do it better than I can. InkJet Mall also has good instructions for this.
We will begin our Overview at Stage 3 - how a photographic film image gets transferred to a copper plate.
Preparation steps
Before we create a plate, we do some pre-checks in the darkroom...
Temperature & Humidity
Room humidity must be between 45 - 65%. Room temperature should be between 70 - 73 degrees F.
Acid Bath Level
Our process uses a single etch of Ferric Chloride at 41° Baumé. We measure the Baumé and adjust if needed.
Alcohol Levels
The plate drying process requires the plate to be agitated in a bath of 50% alcohol solution, and later a wash of 70% alcohol solution. We measure alcohol densities and adjust if needed.
Stable Gelatin Tissue
I sensitize my gelatin tissue in the potassium dichromate bath on the same day that I create the etched plate. I find this produces the most predictable results for downstream processes (rather than make ahead, freeze, thaw/acclimate.) 2.5 - 3 hours is required for tissue to dry properly.
Check List
Due to the many steps involved, it is easy to forget the details. I always bring a checklist into the darkroom with me so that I don't forget or miscalculate a step.
Clean & Organize
All work surfaces are cleaned and dried, including the exposure unit vacuum frame, to avoid contaminating the delicate gelatin tissue.
Exposing the Tissue
Image exposure is done in two steps: Aquatint exposure (which enables a wide tonal range), and image positive exposure.
Cutting the Tissue
We expose the film image onto photosensitized Dragon Tissue, which we cut to a size that is larger than the film, yet smaller than the copper plate.
Secure the Tissue
The tissue is temporarily taped to a sheet of Yupo (synthentic paper), which protects the tissue from the vacuum mat.
#1: Aquatint Screen
We use a hand-made Stochastic image on film as our aquatint layer. This exposure unit uses a single-point overhead Metal Halide bulb, and a vacuum bed to adhere tissue tightly to the glass to prevent warping/curling.
Vacuum Adjustment
Vacuum pressure flattens the film and tissue so as to produce an evenly exposed image, with no peaks or valleys.
#2: Image Positive
The film positive is exposed after the aquatint exposure. Exposure time for both steps on the Nuarc26-1KS, for my environment and workflow,is 40 units.
Let there Be Light!
Once I set the exposure time and flip the switch, I leave the room and let the exposure unit do its thing. As a former Florida resident, I have already gotten my own personal share of UV exposure!
Tissue Lamination to Plate
Tissue lamination is a three stage process: A cold water bath for adhesion, a hot water bath for gelatin expansion and hardening, and alcohol drying.. We use a Hass Intellifaucet E375 to regulate our water temperatures quickly and accurately for this demanding process.
Clean Copper Plate
We used mirror-finished copper for our plates. Before use, they must be degreased with Comet, then splashed with an acetic acid and salt solution. This ensures contaminants that interfere with tissue lay-down are not present.
Water Baths
The cold water bath is used to get the tissue to stick to the copper plate (using a squeegee). It requires immersion in distilled water @ approximately 42° F for 1.5 minutes, and a resting period of 3.5 minutes. The later hot water baths (one still for 1.5 minutes, and one agitated for five minutes) requires a temperature of 115° F. The plate then air-dries for no more than one minute.
Alcohol Baths
The plate drying step continues with a constantly agitated 50% alcohol bath for two minutes, followed by two consecutive 30 second flows of 70% alcohol. The plate is then carefully air dried in 65% humidity using a light, distant fan and very low blow dryer for local spot drying if needed.
Etching The Plate
Photogravure plates are etched in Ferric Chloride at either 40 or 41° Baumé , depending upon the exposure time and temperature/humidity of the darkroom, and temperature of the acid itself. A lower Baume etches faster. A warmer Ferric also etches faster. I nest my Ferric tray inside of a larger tray: if the plate is etching too slowly, I will speed it up by adding water to the outer tray that is slightly warmer than the Ferric in the inner tray.
Masking the Plate
Before we etch a plate, we need to mask out the parts of the plate that we don't want etched: mainly, the margins around the image, and the back of the plate. Once masked, the plate rests on a 130° hot plate for 20 minutes, then is permitted to cool. Prior to etching, we inspect the surface of the plate for any pinholes in the gelatin and stop them out with a Sharpie so that they do not cause ugly, spreading defects in the etch.
In The Bath
Etching time is usually around 23 - 27 minutes. We like to etch a Stauffer scale along with the image to let us measure our progress and make any adjustments to the bath that might be needed. We also know with reasonable certainty when it is time to stop etching.
Final Result
As soon as the etching appears to be completed, the plate is removed from the bath and flooded with cool water to stop the etching. The gelatin tissue is carefully yet quickly removed from the surface, and the plate is polished with Wright's copper cream until it shines. After proofing, this plate will be trimmed to include a 1/4 inch safety edge for handling.
Printing the Plate
Once the plate is created, it needs to be "proofed" to see how well the etch turned out. The first image is usually not great The second print will benefit from residual ink from the first printing, and show more details and tonal separation. Decisions need to be made about what ink and conditioners should be used, and in what proportions. A paper that expresses the image well must be chosen. A dozen proofs or more can go into ink and paper selection for editioning.
Inking
We use oil based inks and condition them with transparent base and burnt plate oil in order to achieve the expected tonal range for copper plate photogravure. We apply the ink to the heated plate using a soft rubber brayer. The plate will then be wiped with a stiffened cheese cloth until only the ink in the recessed wells of the plate remains.
Printing
The plate is printed on a traditional etching press. Prints are pulled one at a time, and require the plate to be re-inked and re-wiped each time.
First Printing
Our thanks to Denise Fuson for allowing us to use her image for this demonstration!