Printmaking Auxiliary Products

Carborundum in various thicknesses.

Slow drying, flexible etching ground. Black colour. Opaque satin finish. Useful for reworking a plate that has not been sufficiently etched by acid, protecting the surface and giving the etched lines greater depth.

Solvent varnish for painting. 125 or 250 ml cans. Discontinued product.

Cranfield Printmakers Wax Drier, a medium that shortens the drying time of oil-based printing inks. Improves the resistance of the dried print surface to abrasion or marking.

Colourless thinner to reduce the viscosity of Plastexol screen printing inks. Does not change the properties of the ink. Glossy.

Schmincke Pouring Medium, liquid, transparent and glossy. Ideal for painting with the pouring technique. Waterproof. Does not yellow. This technique makes it possible to paint pictures easily and with a very professional finish.

The hardest and least flexible of all polymers. Ideal in combination with acrylic paint to increase film hardness and reduce tackiness. Very useful when mixed with acrylic paint to adhere to non-porous surfaces.

Universal acrylic polymer, very useful for thinning and extending colours as well as increasing flexibility and film integrity. It wets solids easily and is suitable as a primer to prevent discolouration.

Multi-functional elastic putty for universal application. Adhesion on all types of surfaces with very high anchorage properties.

Polyurethane resin varnish used in printing together with carborundum for the production of matrices. Particularly suitable for varnishing pine wood floors, to which it gives a smooth, elastic and durable surface.

Release wax for glass fibre. Used in printmaking processes.

Biodegradable, non-toxic and absolutely ecological universal detergent, emulsifiable, based on vegetable oil. FOGRA tested. Fulfils the SED (Solvent Emissions Directive) criteria for the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Ferric chloride for the production of metal etchings in low relief using the acid etching technique. Aqueous solution. Rusty or antique-looking surface.

Drying agent for inks. Reduces the ink flow and drying time of inks.

Transparent wax for retouching printed images. It is used to retouch the print image after etching and to change the previous print or details.

It is applied to a hot plate to melt the wax and distribute it evenly over the entire plate. Made from beeswax, bitumen and rosin. Fast drying.

Artools black wax in ball form for printmaking. Dilutable with turpentine or pure alcohol. The melting point of the black wax is 60º to 70º. Dries quickly. Includes a sponge for easy, even application in thin layers.

Charbonnel liquid transparent retouching varnish. Apply cold with a brush. Slow drying. Allows you to see the underlying drawing.

Charbonnel liquid siccative retouching varnish composed of beeswax, bitumen and acetone solvent. Satin matt finish. Fast drying. Does not remove previous varnish. To be applied with a brush on a cold plate.

Liquid black covering varnish with a satin finish. Made from bitumen of Judea, turpentine, white spirit and wax. Dries faster and is harder than Ultraflex varnish. For finer and more precise strokes.

Basic ground for etching technique that gives a satin black finish to the plate, perfectly covering, homogeneous and ready for printing. It is applied with a brush. It allows clean and precise prints without risk of cracks.

Black satin etching ground with a liquid consistency and a satin matt appearance. Made from bitumen of Judea, turpentine, white spirit, wax. Harder and dries faster than Ultraflex. Allows finer strokes.

Ultraflex liquid etching ground. Great alternative to solid etching materials. Hardens on drying, is transparent and maintains a satin finish. Can be applied several times, with a soft brush or directly on the plate.

Solid ball ground based on Judea bitumen, rosin and wax. Opaque and matt finish for extremely clear prints. Ideal for fine details and deep engraved lines. Can be applied hot with a leather brush or brayer.

Opaque varnish, very acid and heat resistant, dries quickly.

Linseed oil increases the flowability of etching colours.

Greasy Charbonnel oil for gravure printing, whose main function is to increase the fluidity of the colours.

Light oil for gravure printing whose main function is to increase the fluidity of the colours.

Greasy printing ink oil from Artools. Increases the fluidity and lustre of printing inks.

Light printing ink oil. Increases the flowability of intaglio inks.

Natural resin or rosin. Its most common use is in the preparation of the glue that is added to the paper during production. It is used in printmaking for the aquatint technique and as a varnish.