Akua Intaglio Instructions
Table of Contents
Ink Consistency
Modifying the ink
Mixing Colors
Wiping the plate
Printing Paper
Re-Soaking Prints
Ink Drying Times
Cleaning Up
Trouble Shooting
Ink Consistency
Akua Intaglio will never harden or form a skin in the container when left uncovered. It is different from traditional inks in that it has a buttery consistency. The ink consistency varies depending upon the pigment and temperature conditions. The ink will be stiffer when cold and looser when warm.
Separation occurs, therefore mixing is necessary before using.
Place the ink knife directly in the ink container and stir. Mix well from the bottom of the container to the top. It is also very important to stir the ink regularly during the whole printing session.
- Open the jar and stir the ink thoroughly from bottom to top.
- Take the amount of ink that you need for about one hour and put it on a glass slab.
- Stir the ink left out on the slab regularly (about every half hour)
Modifying Akua Intaglio Inks
Akua Oil Converter to Stiffen the Ink
If a stiffer consistency is desired, add Akua Oil Converter.
- Before mixing, work the Oil Converter with the ink knife until it’s smooth.
Note: Blending Medium can also be added to Akua Oil Converter if it is too stiff to work. - Then add Akua Intaglio Ink into the Oil Converter.
- Start with small amounts until the desired thickness is achieved.
Akua Oil Converter
Mixing Akua Intaglio into Akua Oil Converter
Blending Medium to Loosen the Ink
The following techniques work best when the ink is loose: silk aquatint, four color intaglio-type and direct painting monotypes.
- Add drops of Akua Kolor Blending Medium to suit.
Making the Original Formula Similar to the New Formula
Original formula Akua Intaglio ink can be made stiff like the new formula by adding Akua Oil Converter. It can also be made more intense in color by adding Akua Kolor.
- Add Akua Oil Converter to stiffen
- A few drops of Akua Kolor will enrich the color
Note: This will make it similar to the new formula but not exactly the same.
Making the New Formula Similar to the Original Formula
New formula Akua Intaglio ink can be made loose like the original by adding Blending Medium. It can also be made more transparent like the original with the addition of Transparent Base.
- Mix equal parts of new ink and Transparent Base
- Add about 3 drops Blending Medium per tablespoon to above mixture to loosen ink.
Transparent Base
Akua Transparent Base is a soy based intaglio or relief ink base without the pigment. Add Akua Kolor and create new custom colors.
- Add Akua Kolor into Transparent Base by the drop.
- No set amount of color is needed, it depends on the artist for their choice of color intensity or transparency.
- Cleans up with soap and water
Akua Intaglio Transparent Base
Four Color Process
The Four Color Process requires the ink to be transparent and loose like the original ink.
The ink mixture for the 4 Color Process is:
Using New Formula Akua Intaglio
- Equal amounts of Akua Intaglio Ink and Akua Intaglio Transparent Base
- Add about 3 drops Blending Medium per tablespoon to loosen ink.
David Jay Reed cards the ink on the plate
Printing a four color intaglio-type print
Four Color Intaglio-type print by David Jay Reed
Printed on damp paper.
Mixing Colors
With a more extensive range of 25 colors, Akua Kolor can be mixed into the “new” or “original” formula Akua Intaglio inks and/or Transparent Base to create various new colors for intaglio or relief printmaking.
- Add Akua Kolor in small amounts
- Akua Kolor will actually create a stiffer consistency
Akua Intaglio inks can also be mixed with one another to create new colors.
Wiping the plate
Akua Intaglio is very soft ink. It applies and wipes off the plate much easier and quicker than oil-based inks. Therefore, at first there may be a tendency to remove too much ink. For best results, use soft tarlatan to wipe the surface of the plate. Roll the tarlatan into a large ball shape. Follow through with a paper wipe if necessary. Be careful not to press your fingers into the inked surface of the plate. Since the ink is soft, it will transfer fingerprint impressions easily.
Printing Paper
Dry Paper recommended for:
- Monotypes
- Lino cuts & wood block
- Shallow bitten intaglio plates (sometimes)
- Notes: Printing on dry paper offers higher contrast prints. It also eliminates the possibility of paper shrinkage making it ideal for printing multi-registered plates or combining prints with digital ink jet or letterpress images. Increase the pressure of the press and use soft absorbent printmaking paper, such as Arches 88 when printing on dry paper. If the print results are blotchy or inconsistent it may be necessary to dampen the paper.
Damp Paper recommended for: (soak for approximately 30 minutes)
- Etching / Intaglio
- Traditional Aquatints
- Silk Aquatints
- Carborundum
- Photo polymer plates
- Drypoint
- Collagraph
- Notes: Printing on damp paper may offer greater tonal values and more consistent print results for aquatints. Soak the paper and blot thoroughly before using.
Re-Soaking Prints
Akua Intaglio ink is permanent. If necessary, prints may be placed in a tray of water immediately after printing. Do not soak prints too long and be careful not to touch the image while wet.
Ink Drying Times
Akua Intaglio ink does not contain dryers. How long the prints take to dry will depend on the type of paper used and how thick the ink was applied. Glossy or coated papers are not reliable. These Inks dry by absorption unlike traditional oil based inks which dry by evaporation. Typically a shallow bitten plate will take 24 hours to dry. Deeply bitten plates may take 2 weeks or longer. If time is an issue, there are three methods for speeding up the print drying process.
1. Drying Between Blotters
Blotters are heavy absorbent papers. Newsprint paper can be used as an inexpensive alternative.
2. Adding Cobalt Dryers
It is not necessary to add dryers to Akua Intaglio ink. However, in the case of very deeply bitten plates which require a larger amount of ink, cobalt dryers that printmaking suppliers sell for oil based inks do work with Akua Intaglio. If you choose to add cobalt dryers, please follow safety instructions from your supplier.
- Add a maximum of 0.5% to 1% cobalt dryer to the ink (almost nothing).
- Prepare just the amount of ink you need within the next 30-60 minutes.
- NOTES: The cobalt dryer starts to activate immediately after adding it to the ink. Never mix cobalt dryer into to the jar. Never put ink with dryer back in the jar! Stir the ink regularly during when printing.
3. Add Magnesium Carbonate
Magnesium Carbonate can be used as a safer alternative to cobalt dryer.
- Mix 10% of magnesium carbonate into Akua Intaglio ink. In order for this to work, it is very important to let the mixture sit for approximately 24 hours before using. The ink will expand and thicken. Ideal for woodblocks and linocuts.
Cleaning Up
First, clean all materials, rollers, and plates with a dry rag, then with liquid dish soap right from the bottle. For final clean-up, water can be used. A rough textured rag works better than a smooth rag. Never add water directly in the inks, water causes the ink to stiffen and makes clean up more difficult.
Print dries milky gray instead of black
- Stir the ink thoroughly from top to bottom in jar before using
- Stir the ink on the glass slab after each half hour
- Paper may be too wet (blot before using)
Ink dries too dark on the print
- Add Transparent Base to the ink to reduce the color intensity.
Print dries too matte
- Add Akua Oil Converter to the ink
Etched lines bleed on finished print
- Paper may be too wet (blot before using)
- Try different papers
Heavily inked prints dry slowly
- Add Cobalt dryers
- Dry prints between blotters
- Allow ample time for drying (prints will dry)
Ink wipes out from incised lines
- Ink may be too loose (stiffen the ink with Akua Oil Converter)
Print lacks plate tone
- Print on damp paper
- Wipe with less pressure (plate may be over wiped)
Print has too much plate tone
- Print on dry paper
- Wipe more thoroughly
Prints dry blotchy
- Dampen the paper
- Avoid touching the inked surface of the plate and transferring fingerprints
