Learning to Use a Gel Press Printing Plate


A long while back, I saw a gel printing plate being used for a craft online and thought it was the coolest thing ever. So I ordered one online (there are a couple of brands, but mine's a 5 x 7 inch Gel Press brand printing plate). Then I forgot I had it for a couple of years and finally decided to bring it out and try it. This is not an expert tutorial, but instead a chance for you to follow along as I learn about how to get the gel printing plate to work.

 

I laid out a silicone mat to protect my table and gathered up a bunch of supplies. I grabbed my stash of old craft paints, paint brushes, some paint daubers, a paper plate to use as a palette, and a bunch of 24lb copy paper (that I cut in half since the gel press is 5 X 7). I also grabbed a brayer that I had in my linoleum stamping supplies.


I chose a few colors of paint that were complementary to start. I used a paint brush to apply the paint onto the gel press.


Once the gel press was covered in paint, I used a paint dauber to create circles in the paint.


Then I smoothed the paper onto the gel press. This is where I used the brayer, but you could use your hand or the bottom of a glass or a credit card...the brayer isn't a requirement. Immediately I learned that less is more--especially with craft paint. Since craft paint is fairly thin, you don't need a ton of it to get an interesting print--more paint just kind of squishes everywhere. I'm sure with a thicker paint you'd get different results (and a brayer may be used to apply the paint to the gel press for thicker paints).


Since my first print used so much paint, I had quite a bit left on the press. I added some circles with the daubers and then applied another piece of paper.


That turned out a bit better--with less paint, you could see the circles more clearly.


I also grabbed a some palette knives and tried to use those to create patterns, but since that seemed to work the best with lots of paint, it ran into the same problems as before.


And just like the first attempt, the paint squished. It was still interesting, just not exactly what I had planned.


As I reapplied the paper and  tried adding layers and different effects, the copy paper was getting a bit soggy (even with the slightly heavier weight 24lb paper). On one of the repeat attempts, I teared a piece of paper when trying to pull it off the press. With this regular paper, only one or two applications to the press with paint is recommended. Otherwise, it will need drying time between layers.


It wasn't exactly what I planned, but I definitely learned some things. You can totally use craft paint and copy paper on a gel press. Less paint works better with craft paint and allowing the paper to dry or sticking to just a couple layers works best.



I certainly had fun with my first attempts, and I look forward to learning more about the gel press.

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