MONOTYPE

---

A monotype is a "one-of-a-kind print. Etching or lithographic ink is applied to a plastic or metal printing plate with a brayer, a brush, or a cloth. Once an image is achieved on the plate a special printmaking  paper is placed on the plate and then slowly run through the extreme pressure of the rollers on an etching press. This transfers the image to the paper leaving less than 10% of the ink on the plate, therefore only one print can be obtained.  

Intaglio is to etch (incise or cut) into a surface. A photopolymer intaglio plate is a thin steel plate that is coated with a water-soluble emulsion that is light sensitive. This is a non-toxic etching method that uses water not the traditional acid to etch into a surface.  Since this is a light sensitive plate, the marking material used must be light resistant, so a combination of opaque markers,  pencils, and/or paint must be used to draw the image. This image is then transferred onto a thin, translucent plastic film such as mylar to make a positive transparency. The photopolymer plate is covered by the positive transparency and is exposed to a very bright metal halide light source.  Areas left open and clear of opaque marks will allow light to reach the water-soluble emulsion on the printing plate and harden it.  The hardened areas become impervious to water, while the areas left unhardened will wash away during the developing stage and etch the surface. Once the plate is ready, it is inked, wiped, and printed like a traditional etching.

Lessons in Healing-David Manje-15"x11"-Photopolymer Intaglio

     In traditional copper etching an aquatint is achieved by dusting the surface with a rosin powder. The plate is slowly heated until the rosin particles melt into dots that adhere to the plate surface. Each dot becomes a barrier to the etching acid. When the etching plate is placed into an acid-bath, all areas are "bitten" or corroded that are not protected by the rosin dots.

     Non-toxic Silk Aquatint uses a Plexiglass plate on which a silk-like material is adhered. Images are drawn onto the silk  with acrylic paint, acrylic varnish, and acrylic molding paste which create blocked areas. These areas resist ink producing a variety of lighter values. All areas of the silk not blocked produce a deep, uniform, velvety black tone. The results from regular and non-toxic methods create almost similar results.       

Hermanos en la Tormenta-David Manje-22"x30"-Silk Aquatint

Night Jack- David Manje-30"x22"-Mono Silkscreen