Issues with my slates again

[harlequeen]

I seem to take one step forward and one step back with the printing of slates. I do a couple, following Paul's tried and trusted method and everything seems fine. Then I do a couple more, same method and the print is poor. Light colours etc and a strange circular mark which seems to be coming from the plate of the press. I've altered the pressure of the press so that I can put a sheet of greaseproof paper in between the slate and the press and only remove it by a light tug, there is some resistance.

Using this method I produced a lovely print and I'd also used a temperature of 190C which I saw that Paul had used recently. Great stuff, I thought, do another with a light background and the print just isn't sharp and there seems to be some banding after the print. I just can't get this consistently right regardless of what I'm doing.

Any ideas anyoner, Paul maybe. Yours always look so good. I will try to post some pics tomorrow

Cheers

Harlequeen

[Paul]

hmmm not sure what to say...
Pressure?
is it heavy? I noticed my slates don't like heavy pressure at all.

[Justin]

Are you just using paper on top of the slate or any sort of pad?

[harlequeen]

I am use paper on top of the slates now. I used to use a silicon sheet, but wasn't getting good results. With these 2 pics I test the pressure by whether I can pull the paper from the press. If I can't move it I lighten the pressure until I can take the paper out with a light tug.

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The second lighter background picture is not as sharp on the slate as it is in reality. It is around the eyes of the older child mostly. It's so frustrating as I end up wasting slates.

Thanks for the input. I may try even lighter pressure.

[Justin]

I always use one of these when I press slates http://www.marvelpress-supplies.co.uk/p ... sponge-pad. Good firm pressure, 190c for 500 seconds. Paper inbetween slate/pad to catch ghosting.

[Paul]

I never had good result with just a paper as slates are not flat enough. So silicon sheet work for me every time.

[JMugs]

I use a silicon sheet, heavy pressure. 210 degrees 540 secs.

[Scotty@BMS]

I go 193 degrees C, medium/firm, 525 seconds, silicon pad.

[harlequeen]

Hi I have tried what you good people have suggested, but I'm still getting inconsistent results. Overall, my slates are now coming out too pale. I am cooking on 193 for 540 seconds. No 2 slates come out even close to similar depth of colour. Any ideas please? I a slate which I need to do 3 copies of and although I expect to get some variance, they just aren't close enough. The best is very good, the worst would be OK, if no one saw the best. LOL

[Justin]

Remind me, are you using a sheet on top? I tried with the usual silicone rubber sheets but found mine were too pale. Since using the sponge sheet they've been fine. I've just ordered a couple more off eBay to try.