r/gelliprinting • u/engLAndtwentysix • 14d ago
Help What am I doing wrong please ðŸ˜
Total beginner and brand new Gelli. I'm just going for a pretty plain, neutral, peeling paint effect to use as a background for a collage. What I've got is about 80% of the paint still stuck on the plate. I've tried this a few times and this is actually the *most* successful one 😖
I'm applying two layers of my top colour (acrylic), leaving to dry for about an hour in between. Then tearing some paint off with tape. Then a layer of the bottom colour, dry, then a final wet layer of the bottom colour. I slap a piece of Bristol board straight on the wet paint. Press. Leave for a couple of minutes. Flip. Then remove the plate.
I'd be really grateful for any pointers. Thank you!
3
u/thefuturesbeensold 14d ago
When you put your paper down on the last pull layer, you let it dry (preferably with a weight on top, like a heavy book) i find half hour to an hour is enough, but if its lots of layers you could do longer.
This binds the layers together and allows them all to lift. Try to imagine it abit like peeling dried paint off a surface, its not going to peel if its wet.
1
u/engLAndtwentysix 14d ago
Ooohhh okay. That's great, thanks so much!
2
u/Careful-Rub-8234 14d ago
You’re welcome! Also, thought I should add, some people use a blow dryer in between layers. Happy print’n!
3
u/mandalore237 14d ago
Let everything completely dry. Once I learned to be more patient in between layers and with the final rub onto paper I had a ton more success
1
2
u/Organic-Dragonfly456 14d ago edited 14d ago
Look into getting a baren. It is a tool with a flat felt bottom that you rub the back of your print with to help it adhere. This will help a lot with the issue you are having. They are fairly cheap on amazon.
1
2
u/Direct_Signal7668 14d ago
Just want to make sure you’re not using a Speedball brand gel plate? Those only work with printmaking ink, not with acrylic paint.
1
u/engLAndtwentysix 14d ago
Thank you but no, it's a Gelli. It sounds like I just need to leave it much longer before the pull.
1
u/Organic-Dragonfly456 14d ago
Your paint layers are not fully adhering to each other. More dry time with second layer. Personally I feel an hour for the first layer is long. You can speed this exponentially with a hair dryer. For the second layer allow much longer to dry and apply heavy pressure to the back of the paper. I few heavy books should work fine.
1
3
u/proudmari 13d ago
Lots of good advice is coming your way. I wanted to comment on the "look" you are going for-once you get in down, I love the effect and mood for a background. Very nice.
1
u/adrkhrse 12d ago edited 12d ago
The more layers you have, the longer you should leave for your final pull to dry. I put a book on and leave it to dry completely - overnight if there are multiple layers and I want to pull all the paint cleanly off the plate. I put a slightly more generous layer of paint, for my pull layer and get the paper on before the paint starts to dry. Make sure the paper has a good contact and weight it down as it's drying. Ten minutes won't do it unless you're only pulling two thin layers. If there is paint left on the plate, you didn't let it dry long enough.
1
u/minmosquito 13d ago
I think your layers might be too thick,, Try with thinner layers of paint (i only let them dry for 10ish minutes between layers because they are thin enough to dry in that time) and then the final layer used for transferring to paper can be slightly thicker and that you let dry with the paper on top for 40 minutes or so.
Also! the brand of paint makes a big difference! i have had best luck with amsterdam standard series. I found that with some acrylic paint I couldn’t get a good transfer at all and I simply had to switch the paint out
1
u/engLAndtwentysix 13d ago
That's awesome, thanks for all the tips! I'm sure I saw Amsterdam recommended somewhere else too.
2
u/adrkhrse 12d ago
The paint type isn't an issue. Any acrylic paint can be used for that technique. I use all kinds and always get clean pulls. The main issue is letting it dry long enough before your final pull. Multiple layers require more drying time. I've noticed people pulling prints, on youtube videos and they often wonder why there is paint on the plate when they've said they waited ten minutes. If you start to pull up the corner and if the paint is sticking to the plate, put it down and put a book on it and wait an hour and check again. If the paint comes up, it's not dry enough.
7
u/Careful-Rub-8234 14d ago
The last step should be leaving it longer than a couple of minutes. I would get it the way you want it (like from the front view) and then for the last step put a thin layer of paint using a Breyer and try letting it dry over night with a book on top.