Soft Ground Part 1

Learn how to work with soft ground.
You can download this video from our website.
Go to www.printmakingstudio.co.uk

[@bigetchingground]

Sorry if it wasn’t made clear the mesh is used to help prevent ground being lifted from areas where you don’t place items. With a little ground on the mesh this further helps to improve this. I think at 4.20 min I mention this.

[@disincock455]

Having bought red BIG to do soft ground, don’t have an oven available, can I use a hot plate and if so what temperature ?

[@rachelratten6832]

Thank you for your prompt reply! Yes I have got a piece of screen mesh… now I know how to clean it, I will use that - thanks again

[@mariarosachaparro1666]

Thanks for the video! I did not understand how to prepare the stop-out solution, with what we mix the red ground?

[@drozdikvera7666]

Thank you! Very useful!

[@seijen1904]

which kind of brayer (brand / hardness ) do you use ?

[@roseofsharon8332]

Do we need to carve the leaf pattern or is it already engraved by rolling it into the press ?

[@bigetchingground]

Simply the pressure of the press on the leaf will remove the ground to expose the metal which in tern allows you to etch.

[@nwitcher9596]

Thank you. You mentioned the importance of appropriate pressure from the press, and that you achieve it by using only two blankets. Do you adjust the calibration at all?

[@bigetchingground]

It really depends on the pressure you would normally have on your press. I probably have a little more pressure on my press than some. The important thing to remember is that if the object you are trying to get an impression from fails to achieve the results you are looking for add a little more pressure. I would tend to add this by placing one or to sheets of paper under the plate rather than alter the pressure of the press. Also remember that some things are thicker than others so that can effect results to. Hope this helps.

[@nwitcher9596]

@@bigetchingground Thank you, your inventiveness and eye for non-toxic methods are so appreciated.

[@rachelratten6832]

Can you reuse the mesh - screen printing mesh is pricey…or is a fine light cotton fabric ok? Like muslin etc

[@bigetchingground]

I do yes. Once I have finished with it I clean first with a veg oil add some washing up liquid and then add water to remove the ground. Having said this a fine synthetic mesh would do the same job, not so sure about cotton fabric.

[@disincock455]

Having bought red BIG to do a soft ground, don’t have an oven available to harden ground. Can I use a hot plate and if so, what temperature?

[@bigetchingground]

You can use a hot plate at low temperature but my advice would be to make your own oven by lining a cardboard box with aluminium foil. Cut a hole in the lid and insert a hair dryer. Average hair dryer and box of approx dimensions 25 x 40 x 60 would take 15 min to cure. If you have a look on my Facebook page ‘Trefeglwys Printmakers’ you will find a short film demonstrating this. Hope this helps.

[@disincock455]

@@bigetchingground many thanks for your prompt reply Andrew. I will give the cardboard box and hairdryer a try,

[@FrancesStaniforth-ue4ru]

Hi do I have to bake the plate with the soft ground or can I put it directly in the ferric ?

[@bigetchingground]

Hi You do have to bake the plate for the 6min as you do for hard ground before it goes into the ferric. Give the plate at least an hour after taking from oven before you put it in so that it has time to fully cure.

[@FrancesStaniforth-ue4ru]

Thank you so much that is so speedy

[@FrancesStaniforth-ue4ru]

Thank you so much that is so speedy

[@FrancesStaniforth-ue4ru]

Thank you so much that is so speedy

[@FrancesStaniforth-ue4ru]

Thank you so much that is so speedy

[@KpxUrz5745]

Even after all that discussion, he never explained the real purpose of the yellow mesh or the addition of the 2nd application of ground, or the reason the yellow mesh was used again.

[@guloguloguy]

..."Big" = ?!.... Is that a "brand name" for some 'stop-out'/'ground'/'resist' chemical?! Please provide a list of the materials used. Thanks!!

[@bigetchingground]

BIG is my trade name. The ground has been independently tested by a laboratory in USA. If you would like more information you can contact me via my website www.printmakingstudio.co.uk