Akua Inks Tips and Tricks

Susan Rostow, inventor of Akua Inks, highlights the qualities and benefits of Akua Modifiers and provides artists with new and creative ways to use each.
Take a Hands-on Workshop: Ongoing workshops using Akua Inks are held at Susan Rostow's Brooklyn Studio. For the Brooklyn Studio schedule, please visit: www.SusanRostow.com
Director/Editor: Heddi Vaughan Siebel
Director of Cinematography: Brian Dowley
Original Music: Dewey Dellay
Sound Mix: Raul Rosa

[@martischmidt6412]

The best information when determining your needs in the studio

[@MrSolperez]

Mil gracias por el vídeo. Ahora tengo claro los diferentes modificadores y para que sirven.

[@prisillaspace]

Thank you. I am just beginning to experiment with drypoint & monotype with your inks. 😍😎💝

[@derekslang]

great video!!!

[@bdelpesco]

This is excellent.... A visual tour through the text of your modifier section in the ink catalogue. Bravo and many thanks!

[@juljos9343]

Is this an advert?

[@bdelpesco]

Julian Joseph Nope. Simple appreciation of instructions made visual.

[@juljos9343]

Belinda Del Pesco so you're not getting anything from AKUA?

[@bdelpesco]

Julian Joseph nothing from Akua. I use and enjoy their products, so I’m sharing my opinion freely.

[@Carina-tm1yj]

Hi, thank you for the inspiration and great demos! I love working with Akua inks in monoprinting. Unfortunately I don't get the metallic inks to work, altough I'm doing like you show in this demo, using the release agent. The metallic ink just don't lift from the plexiglass to the paper. Is there any other solution on this problem? Still hopeful.

[@honeybee-to3kv]

I purchased akua intaligo inks to use with a gelli plate for my highschool students. The website I purchased from said it was soluble with water and soap but I am having a really difficult time with cleaning. Ive learned they need to take as much off the plate as possible with scrap paper. Im able to get some to come off with spray sanitizer. I recently read that baby oil will work, but I want to be able to use the plate with non oil based inks in the future. Any advice?

[@lawrencediggs7957]

What can I do to speed up drying? What is a reasonable time to expect to wait befor the ink is dry enough to hang in a gallery?

[@wendyket]

How do you prevent bleeding at edges of print using a lot of transparent base? I'm wondering if I'm rolling the ink onto the plate too thickly. When using a high percentage of TB, do you need to be aware of rolling a thinner (lighter) amount of ink onto the plate?

[@joannemartignoni6477]

i just used akua in a monoprint. the color faded lighter than when the print was finished. is it typical that the color fades slighly as it does in watercolor painting?

[@coripansarasa7064]

I am working on a gel plate for printing, and just can't get the release agent to pick up the ink. Can you make any suggestions?

[@peggysood2621]

Hi Susan, does the gold have to be used with a release agent? IS there a site which gives how to use each colour?

[@robynpearce5433]

Can one use Akua for Lino printing and if so - which are the best products to use?

[@carovision]

where do you teach ? I'm in NY

[@joannebrown6319]

Would the mag mix help hasten the drying time of the intaglio inks? Either for monotype or woodblocks?

[@akuaprintshop4511]

Yes, the mag mix will speed up the drying a little bit. For woodblock I recommend not applying the ink very heavily on your block to avoid drying issues.

[@kristabotsford7004]

Hi, can the Akua release agent be used with Speedball relief inks ?

[@akuaprintshop4511]

Hi Krista, the Akua release agent was formulated to be used with Akua inks so we have not tested any other products with it.

[@JoRiver11]

I see that the Akua are referred to as intaglio inks, but can they be used for lino cuts? and are there any tips or suggestions for using them with lino? Thanks!

[@akuaprintshop4511]

Hi @JoRiver11 -- you certainly can use the Akua Intaglio inks for Lino cuts and other relief techniques. Because Akua inks dry by absorption, not evaporation, we recommend using a bit less ink than you may be accustomed to. You may have difficulties with drying with residual ink left sitting on the surface of the paper. It's best to allow your prints to dry under newsprint and weights.

[@tracymarshall-johnson1417]

@@akuaprintshop4511 Jo I just starusing Akua Intaglio inks instead of block printing inks. I love the!. I do lino and wood and find I'm not struggling as much as I used to (I've used Cranfield, Gamblin, and even Speedball Professional which is my next favorite ink).

[@marilynlohnes4059]

Tracy Marshall-Johnson j

[@carovision]

What is that roller called that you are using?

[@onyxandfern4008]

Carol Caputo I'm pretty sure it's called a pin press.

[@samatteb1]

Is it waterproof after drying ?

[@akuaprintshop4511]

Thank you for your question @Samat Terberdi . The inks are not "water proof" in that over saturation can effect the intensity of the color. However, prints can be re-soaked for layered printing. We recommend spraying the paper from the back and letting it sit wrapped in plastic so it can remoisten without having much water on the face of the print.

[@carovision]

Can mono prints be made without a press?

[@onyxandfern4008]

Carol Caputo yes :) you can hand print mono prints.

[@JSmedic1]

Can I use this ink on copper plates or is it only for plastic plates?

[@akuaprintshop4511]

Yes, you can use Akua Inks on copper plates.

[@janharwood1360]

*

[@venusnongmaithem180]

This is expensive..I'm just a student I can't effort it