The shower timer is very handy as it counts down backwards and gives a continuous ring for your attention. The negative is trapped under the 5mm glass, on top of the jet plate that has had its cover sheet removed.
The negative is placed onto the jetplate, the clean 5mm glass is placed on top, all on a carry board. The Homeprint Studio lightbox is converted from an old sunbed and can carry many photoemulsion screens for screenprinting or solarplate exposures. The beauty of this system is the UV light flicks into action very quickly and the lamps may be turned on and off with out damaging them. The lamps are also a lot cheaper than the vitalux bulbs.
The jet plate block is locked into the chase and the inking rollers from the Johne Monopol have run across the block laying an even film of oil based ink.
The first trial proof to see if he negatives were OK and the first washout of the Jet Plate looking for best exposure. I tried 30 second strips from 2 min to 3.30min. They all looked fine but I chose 3.30min for these two images.
Married to Allison for 45 years, 3 sons, David, Russell and Paul. I have been primary school teaching in New Zealand for 32 years and for the last 11 years have been developing a Book Art Studio, Library, Art Gallery and substantial warehouse of printmaking equipment and materials. We have a Letterpress Printing and Bookbinding Museum that is a working collection. I have invented an A4 relief printing press and an A3 hydraulic printing press that I manufacture and sell throughout New Zealand with sales into 5 countries overseas. Allison and I have written, illustrated, set, printed, bound and published over 100 titles of artist books.