Health Warning 
Caustic solution: 
1 teaspoon lye to 1 liter of water 
Goggles, apron, & gloves when mixing.
mix the caustic solution outside or in a well ventilated area
Use of Rubber gloves is REQUIRED.
can cause permanent eye damage.


Health WarningGoggles Required. 
If this solution is splashed directly into your eyes flush immediately with water and seek medical advice .

 

Use of the Olec Exposure Unit

Each exposure unit has different attributes. Make sure you know how use it safely.

Materials:

  • Plate laminated with ImagOn

 

  • Turn on Master Switch
  • Turn on Power Button which is located on the Integrator Control unit
  • Push up white board door to exposure unit vacuum frame drawer
  • Place ImagOn covered plate face up under the glass
  • For Aquatint, place aquatint screen on top of plate 
  • (emulsion side down) The screen is labeld and you should be able to see the handwritten "AQUATINT SCREEN" on the taped side of the film.
  • Activate the vacuum by flipping the vacuum pump laight swicth
  • Gently press the outer edge of the vacuum frame to ensure a good seal and thus get an adequate vacuum
  • Close outer door (white wipe off baord) door to the exposure unit

Expose ImagOn coated Plate image original

  • Set exposure time
  • This equipment has a light integrator that judges the amount of light that actually is emitted from the mercury halide light source.

    • Set the unit of exposure desired on the circular gauge on the right side of the exposure unit

Health Warning
Do not look at the light source as the strong light can do serious eye damage

 

Make exposure

  • Press  START button
  • Turn Off Vacuum
  • Lift glass, remove plate, artwork etc. 

Repeat if additional exposures are needed

  • Note: you need to wait at least 30 seconds before trying to restrike the bulb.

At the end of class
(or of your work session)

  • Turn off Master switch

 

ImagOn Exposures Olec Exposure Unit


Continuous Tone

  • Expose ImagOn plate to Aquatint screen
    ( 35 Unit)
  • Expose ImagOn plate to original artwork
    Apx. times
    (under refinement - as of current printing):
    • Xerox transparency - 10 unit exposure
    • Frosted Mylar (heavy) - 35 unit exposure

Line Work (Stippling, Hatching, etc)
No grayscales

  • No initial exposure to an aquatint screen
  • Expose ImagOn plate to original artwork.
    Apx times (as of 10/29/97)
  • Xerox transparency - 10 unit exposure
  • Frosted Mylar (heavy) - 35 unit exposure

Images with solid black areas

  • Expose ImagOn plate to Aquatint screen
    ( 35 Unit)
  • Expose ImagOn plate to original artwork
  • Apx times
    (under refinement - as of current printing):
    • Xerox transparency - 10 unit exposure
    • Frosted Mylar (heavy) - 35 unit exposure

 

Determining Exposures

Exposure Units

Testing the Aquatint Screen for your exposure unit