Sugar Lift

Sugar Lift is a variation on aquatinting. It's quite paintily in its application and allows the artist to achieve a more spontaneous affect in terms of line work and mark making as well as create large areas of colour rather than thinly etched lines.

Aluminium Etching with Sugar Lift and Chine-Colle.

Different Sugar Lift Recipes:

-1 part sugar to 5 parts water, boiled to a syrup.

OR

- 10 parts syrup (1 part sugar to 5 parts water, boiled to a syrup)
+
- 3 parts black poster paint. Makes it easier to see the image when applying the sollution to the plate. - 3 parts liquid detergent. This speeds up the desolving time ,  (gum arabic is optional)

OR

-Condensed milk. It takes a little longer to dry, but it's still effective. 



Method (Preparing the plate):

1. Identify which side of the plate you wish to use (usually the side with less scratches or markings, though these can sometimes add to the character of the print).
2. Bevel the edges of the plate using a Bevelling tool so that each edge is slanted ~ 45° angle (wear glasses).
3. Using fine grit sandpaper (2000) sand the surface of the plate.
4. Degrease the plate. - -English Whiting Powder added to a dash of water (till you get a toothpaste consistency) and apply in a circular motion using cotton wool, rinse under tap using wool.Make sure you don't touch the surface of the plate once its been degreased. 
5. Dry plate using hairdryer.
6. Using an ordinary paintbrush paint the sugar lift syrup onto the plate. (The areas covered in the syrup will be the areas you wish to be black). Also, remember that the image will be reversed when printed.
7. Let the syrup dry completely.
8. Prop the plate on a 45 degree angle and lightly apply Ground using a large brush. Once evenly applied lay the plate on a flat surface and allow it to dry.
9. place the plate in a tub of hot water. The sugar mixture (with the help of the detergent) should then "lift" off the plate, exposing the Aluminium beneath it.
10. Dry the plate.
11. You now have the option to either leave the plate as it is, or to continue working the image by adding more delicate lines with the etching tool.     Note: If you do intend to continue working the plate with an etching tool remember to be conscious of how close your lines are. I've noticed in the past that when lines are drawn too close together there is a risk of them merging completely when put in the copper sulfate, thus creating a black smudge on the print.
12. Bite the plate in Copper Sulphate

-- For full methods regarding the biting and printing of plates please check out my post on Aluminium Etching by clicking on the link below or by selecting the 'Aluminium Etching' label which can be found under "Articles" at the top right hand side of this page :)

http://the-secrets-of-art.blogspot.com/2011/09/aluminium-etching.html