When professional printmaker Kim Herringe started making prints using a gel plate (a plate made of gelatin), she didn’t begin with printing flowers and leaves – it was weeds from her garden that kickstarted her love of the medium. “Weeds are great to print with. [They have] really interesting shapes and vein structures, and in my garden, they’re readily available,” she says. “After I’d printed the first few layers of colour and shapes on my paper, I was hooked.”
Gel plate printing is more than just an interesting new medium to try; it can be relaxing, too. “For me it is a calm and mindful process,” says Kim. “I can disappear for an hour or three into printing and forget the stresses of modern living. Then I love looking through my prints to see what I like most, and what I want to do with them. It is also a process [that’s] accessible to all ages and skill levels.”
Follow Kim’s guide to making a gel plate print with flowers and foliage, then gift your DIY print to a loved one or frame it for yourself.
How Does Gel Plate Printing Work?
Gel plate printing is the process of placing textured and detailed items onto a plate made of gelatin, rolling over them with paint, pressing paper on the paint and peeling it off to reveal an imprint. Your imagination is the limit when it comes to choosing items for your gel plate printing, says Kim. You could use leaves and flowers or craft offcuts and embellishments like cardboard, torn paper, feathers, ribbons and textured fabric. “Anything that will create shapes and detail on the gel plate can be used in this process. I’ve even used the soles of my sneakers – they made a fun texture on the plate to print with.”
The key to a successful gel plate print, according to Kim, is to let go of perfectionism. “I encourage my students to release their attachment to the outcome. There is no right or wrong way to print with gel plates,” she says. “You may print something that wasn’t as you intended, but it’s not a mistake. Let yourself play and enjoy the process of layering colour onto paper from the gel plate. Give yourself permission to play.”
SEE ALSO: Make DIY Home Decor with These Resin Art Projects
Gel Plate Project: Create Your Own Botanical Gel Plate Print
What You’ll Need
- Leaves and flowers from your garden
- Gel Press Gel Printing Plate 8 x 10"
- Reeves Intro Acrylic Paint 100mL Phthalo Blue
- Reeves Intro Acrylic Paint 100mL Brilliant Red
- Reeves Intro Acrylic Paint 100mL Medium Yellow
- Essdee Soft Rubber Roller 150mm
- Essdee Soft Rubber Roller 50mm
- Reflex A3 Copy Paper 3 Ream Carton
- Derivan Matisse Drying Retarder 250mL
- Liquitex Satin Varnish 946mL
- ScotchBlue Basic Painters Tape 2091 24mm x 55m
- A3 Double Sided Cutting Mat
- Keji Stainless Steel Ruler 30cm
- J.Burrows Heavy Duty Box Cutter 18mm
Instructions
Step 1: Squeeze a small amount of acrylic paint onto a gel plate. Use the roller to spread a thin, even layer across the surface.
Step 2: Arrange your leaves or flowers onto the paint-covered gel plate. Look for different shapes and sizes in your foliage to add interest. Don’t use any spiky botanicals as they may damage the surface of the plate. Leave space around your foliage for the paint colour to print onto the paper.
Step 3: Lay a sheet of paper over the botanicals. Press down with your hands and gently rub the paper all over to ensure you lift a good amount of paint from the plate.
Hot tip: To avoid your paint drying on the plate before you can print it, mix a few drops of drying retarder with your paint to slow the drying time.
Step 4: Carefully lift the paper to reveal your botanical print. Remove the botanicals from the plate to reveal the leaf details impressed in the paint on the plate.
Step 5: With the same, or a new piece of paper, lay it over the plate and gently rub the paper to ensure good contact.
Step 6: Carefully lift the paper to reveal your second botanical print. If the paint dries on the surface of the plate before you print it to paper, roll wet paint or a thin layer of satin varnish over the dry paint, then lay a sheet of plain or pre-printed paper over the plate. Rub the paper firmly, leave to sit for a minute, then lift the paper. The dried paint should lift off the plate with the wet paint or varnish, printing onto the paper.
Hot tip: Paint may bead on the surface of the gel plate during the first few impressions. This will settle after a few prints, allowing for a thin even layer of paint.
Step 7: Clean the roller by rolling off the paint onto scrap paper. Remove any excess paint by wiping it with a damp cloth.
Step 8: Add some dimension to your print by repeating the steps with another paint colour. Up to three layers of paint can be used for each print.
Step 9: When you’ve finished printing, clean the gel plate with a damp cloth and wash your gel plate under running water with dish soap. Clean any stains from the gel plate with baby oil. Don’t use vegetable oil.
Hot tip: “The Wire Desktop Organiser 11 Slots Black racks make great drying racks [for gel plate prints] – I use these in my workshops,” says Kim.
SEE ALSO: How to Pick Up a Creative Hobby: Three Artisans Show You How
Gel Plate Project: Make Your Own Gel Plate
If you’d like to try different-shaped gel plates, it’s possible to make your own with a few simple kitchen tools.
What You’ll Need
- 375ml glycerin
- 1/2 cup cold water
- 115 grams powdered gelatin
- 1.5 cups boiling water
Utensils
- Large mixing bowl
- Rubber spatula
- Measuring cup
- 22cm x 33cm biscuit tray
- Spirit level to check the tray is level (optional)
- Strips of cardboard to level the tray (optional)
- Newspaper strips to remove surface bubbles
Instructions
Step 1: Gather all ingredients and utensils, and use a spirit level to ensure your tray is level on your bench.
Step 2: In a bowl, combine 1/2 cup cold water and half of the glycerin (about 200ml). Mix together, stirring slowly to avoid bubbles.
Step 3: Sprinkle the gelatin powder into the water and glycerin mix. Sprinkle in small batches, stirring gently and slowly to dissolve lumps and avoid bubbles. The consistency will be similar to apple sauce.
Step 4: Add 1.5 cups of boiling water and stir until the gelatin dissolves completely.
Step 5: Pour in the remaining 175ml of glycerin, stirring slowly until the mixture is fully blended and bubble-free.
Step 6: Carefully pour the mixture into your prepared tray until it is about 1cm thick. Use newspaper strips to skim off any surface bubbles and allow the tray to set undisturbed at room temperature for about one hour.
Step 7: Once set, place the tray in the fridge for a few hours, or overnight for a firm, shrink-fit plate.
Step 8: Remove your new gel plate from the tray. It is now ready to use for printing. When not in use, store it in a cool, dry location.
Hot tip: You can make a round gel plate by pouring the mixture into a saucepan or a round tray.
What to Do if Your Gel Plate Gets Damaged
If your plate gets damaged, you can melt the plate and reset it by following the below steps.
Step 1: Cut the plate into small 2cm x 2cm pieces using scissors.
Step 2: Melt slowly in the microwave on a low heat.
Step 3: Pour into a tray. Use a sieve to strain the mixture if there are lumps.
Step 4: Use newspaper strips to skim off any surface bubbles and allow the tray to set as above.
Hot tip: “I keep my plate stored in the tray I pour it into, placing a sheet of thick plastic over the plate to keep dust off,” says Kim.
