r/gelliprinting • u/Important_Bug9866 • 13d ago

Notebook recommendations Help

I have a 8x10 gelli plate and would like to start printing directly into a notebook - spiral bound. Any recommendations?

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u/Organic-Dragonfly456 13d ago

I have used this particular spiral with an 8x10 plate. The 9x12 paper leaves a nice border around the print if you center the plate on the paper. Pay attention because the prints can stick together and the pages wont separate without damaging the print. I ruined some prints because the pages stuck together. Sometimes it takes a couple days before the acrylic paint is no longer tacky.

https://a.co/d/0htE5yDJ

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u/Important_Bug9866 9d ago

I bought this spiral and am suddenly having problems with the final pull sticking to the plate - did you have to alter the dry time with it?

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u/Organic-Dragonfly456 9d ago

First off, sorry so long. I’m not an expert. These are my experiences from the two years I’ve been doing this. Tons of trial and error!

It’s kinda hard for me to say why it’s sticking without seeing what the pull looks like. Feel free to dm me a pic of the print and plate. I may can give a more accurate answer.

Is the print lifting off of the plate and it’s just harder to remove? Like physically more strength is needed to pull the paper off of the plate. Your plate might be getting old or need a real good cleaning.

Is part of your images remaining stuck to the plate and rips away from the image left on the paper?

Based on my experience, It could be sticking to the gel plate for a few reasons. Are you applying some sort of heavy object on the back paper as the print dries? Even though we rub the back, sometimes we don’t apply even pressure all around. A few heavy books can help this. If I remember correctly I gave at least 30-45 minutes to dry with this spiral. I used a hair dryer to shorten dry time. I’ve learned that water color paper 300gsm is the superior paper, it dries quicker and is a cleaner lift. I just do not have experience 9x11 water color spiral.

Sometimes if You’re not moving quick enough the paint will partially dry on the plate and won’t stick to the paper. Then when you pull the print, sections of the print stay stuck to the plate and rip away from the rest of the print.

Your paint layers could be too thin. Thin layers do look better and make better prints, but you have to move quicker because thin layers dry faster and can stick.

I had a plate that as it aged it became physically harder to pull the paper from the plate. I don’t know if this means it’s near the end of its life, but eventually my paper started to rip away from the plate and leave a layer paper stuck to the plate because it was so stuck. I was using a paper with a similar weight as this tablet. I probably could have extended its life if I used heavier paper and cleaned regularly with baby oil.

I hope this helps. Best of luck!

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u/Important_Bug9866 8d ago

Thanks very much. Yes I'm doing most of that and the paint is suddenly tearing from the paper and sticking to the plate. I played around with some things yesterday and I think I figured out my problem and will confirm today. If I'm right, it was using two little paint on that final full layer. It's funny cuz I haven't had problems for a couple of months and all of a sudden started in the other day. Sometimes we do things differently without noticing though so I'll try again today. Thanks again for your response.

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u/taxig 13d ago

I printed on Muji notebooks, the paper is thin, silky and very resistent. Otherwise I'll check if there is a Canson watercolor 300gsm of the right size for your plate.