Here is a description of the process I will try to do with my new Etching Press. All photos are prints made by master printer Eric Levert, photographers listed below in pics. As you can see stunning work can be created.
-------------
Toyobo printing (also known as photopolymer gravure) is a Japanese printmaking technique that acts as a bridge between photography and traditional etching. It involves using a light-sensitive polymer plate to transfer an image using UV light, resulting in a tactile print that looks like a hand-crafted intaglio.
The Toyobo Process
- The Plate: A metallic plate with a photosensitive polymer layer is used.
- Exposure: Your digital image (inverted, such as an x-ray or high-contrast photo) is printed onto a transparent acetate sheet. This is placed on the Toyobo plate and exposed to UV light.
- Development: The light hardens the exposed polymer, while the covered, unexposed areas remain soft. The plate is then washed with water, which washes away the unexposed polymer to create a subtle, 3D relief.
- Printing: The plate is inked and wiped just like an intaglio etching, then run through a printing press to transfer the image onto high-quality fine art paper
