ImagOn photopolymer films
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Photopolymer films are used a lot in printmaking. Photopolymer hardens out when exposed to Ultra Violet light. Photopolymer comes as a film (Imagon HD, DK-film, Puretch) as a plate (Toyobo), liquid (with brush) or as an earosol. It is always about bringing a photosensitive layer on a base. The image is transferred onto the photopolymer via a positive transparent mylar sheet, which carries the image (manually, photographically or via computer/printer). At large there are a few methods how to use the photopolymer:
- Intaglio. "Intaglio-type" (the term "type" suggests that it is about relief printing, slightly confusing. In "Intaglio-type" the image is made only in the photopolymer layer itself. (exposure-hardening-wash-out). The base is only carrying the film and hence can be made of any material. Both the Imagon films and DK-films can be used for this purpose.
- Intaglio. Photopolymer as a resist. In this technique the film is applied to a copper plate. After exposure and hardening out, the plate is washed out, which makes some of the copper parts exposed. Next the plate is etched in ferric chloride, and the the etching ground is removed after etching. Now the plate can be printed as a standard intaglio plate. Puretch is very well suited for this technique because it is thinner than ImagOn (allows finer detail)
- Relief Printing. Solar Plates are very well suited for this purpose, since they were developed for relief printing (flexography). Toyobo plates can also be used for "Intaglio-type".
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