Using the PinPress

About the Pin Press
Pin Press Purchase info

Printing Monotypes with the PinPress

1. Develop your image on a thin, smooth surfaced plate.

2. Place the plate on a level surface—tempered plate glass is recommend as press bed

3. Lay your paper onto the plate.

4. Place the PinPress on the center of the paper.

5. Using light pressure roll back and forth a few times to allow the paper and ink to stick.

6. Then, apply more pressure with the roller. Roll completely off the edges of the plate.

7. Lift and check a corner of the print before pulling paper from plate. To check the transfer—keep one hand lightly pressing the other half of the paper on the plate to keep the paper/plate registration.

8. Apply more pressure with the roller as needed

Press Beds

If you have a heavy glass table top, you are set. Otherwise, we recommend ¼” or thicker tempered plate glass for successful printing. Most laminated surfaces and Plexiglas are not as flat as they appear. You can check a surface by rolling a PinPress across it. Any gap that appears between the roller and the surface will indicate an uneven surface and will not receive pressure during printing. For optimum leverage, place the glass on a table slightly lower than hip level.

Monotype Plates

Develop your image on a thin, smooth plastic plate. Thinner plates are easier to roll onto with the PinPress –1/16 “or thinner polycarbonate plastic or PETG plastic is ideal. Just about any smooth, non-porous surface will work: mylar, acetate, or plastic coated freezer paper. Use a fine grade of steel wool to file off any burr the plate has around the edges. A burr or raised edge won’t allow the roller to apply pressure to the plate surface. Suspect a burr if you see a halo around the edge.

Developing the Image

Any brand of water or oil-based ink can be used with the PinPress. For best result we recommend Akua inks. Because Akua inks do not dry on a non absorbent surface, artists can enjoy an endless amount of time creating monotypes. There is never a need to hurry to create your image or clean up when using Akua inks. Inks, brayers, brushes, palettes and ink slabs can be left uncovered for as long as you like.

Akua Inks can be applied by brush, brayer, sponge, Akua Applicators etc. Avoid heavy painted applications or puddles of ink that will create blobs when pressure is applied. Be sure to experiment with over printing multiple plates. Akua inks build incredible intensity with each successive layer. As a general rule, work light to dark (example: print yellow, red, blue then black layers). Try adding Akua Transparent Base for luminous layers of transparent colors.

Choosing Akua Kolor or Akua Intaglio Inks for Hand Printing
Both Akua Intaglio inks and Akua Kolor inks will work with the PinPress. However, since  Akua Intaglio ink  is a thicker ink it will release from the plate to paper more easily than Akua Kolor. Akua Kolor requires a coating of  Akua Release Agent on the plate before doing brushwork.

Rolling up

For best hand print results use thick applications of ink. Akua Intaglio ink can be used right from the jar or Akua Kolor can be made thicker.

• Akua Intaglio ink

Akua Intaglio ink offers strong color density right from the jar with no modification for roll ups.

• Akua Kolor ink

Akua Kolor without modification is too thin to print roll ups by hand. Unmodified Akua Kolor only transfers well with the pressure of an etching press. Thicken Akua Kolor by adding Akua Transparent Base (as much or as little as you like) or Akua Tack Thickener (only a small amount).

Brushwork

Akua Kolor or Akua Intaglio inks may be used for brushwork. Both inks may need some modification.

• Akua Intaglio ink

If Akua Intaglio ink is too thick to brush, loosen it by adding a few drops of Akua Blending Medium. Then paint your image directly onto the surface of a plate.

• Akua Kolor ink

For hand printing with Akua Kolor it will be necessary to coat the plate first with Akua Release Agent. Roll a thin coat of Release Agent onto the plate. Then paint with Akua Kolor. TIP: A drop or two of Akua Kolor ink can be added to the Release Coat before rolling it up to create a different plate tone background color to work on.

Selecting Papers

For best results we recommend smooth paper. Ultra smooth, absorbent Arches 88 is perfect for hand printing on dry paper. Arches 88 should not be dampened. Some bond papers also print well dry. Smooth sized papers such as Revere and other printmaking papers need to be soaked and blotted to soften the surface before printing.

Registration

For quick and easy registration, place a registration template under the glass. Add a little water between the surface of the glass press bed and printing plate. The water will suck the plate down and prevent the plate from moving. Be carful not to add too much water as it can spread under pressure and ruin your print.

Cleaning up

Clean the PinPress with a soft rag. A dry micro fiber rag, moist wipes (baby wipes), or dish soap on a slightly damp cloth works great for cleaning Akua inks from all surfaces. Do not use a lot of water as it will make clean up more difficult.