Chine-Colle

~The method of gluing small pieces of paper to a print during the printmaking process.

French: 
Chine = 'Tissue'~ Traditionally imported from China, Japan and India.
Colle = 'Adhesive' or 'Glue' which is used to attach the thin pieces of tissue to heavier support paper.


Glue: Methyl Cellulose.
(Laboratory Reagent) Powder form.
[Same glue which book binders use]
Mix powder with about a tablespoon to 1 cup of hot water.
-It dries in the container from the base up, so make sure you give it a mix every now and then.
-You can also add acrylic paint to the glue in order to add colour.

Stretching the Chine-Colle Paper:
If you don't pre-stretch the Chine-Colle paper it's no biggie, it just means that it might not be as precise.

What you'll need:
- Methyl Cellulose glue.
- Thin paper ~ Tissue is traditionally preferred, but have fun experimenting. Just make sure that it's thinner than the intaglio paper you intend on gluing it to. Also, remember that cheaper tissue papers are more likely to run or fade.
- Perspex ~ The size needed will depend on the scale of the chine-colle
paper you're using.
- 1 Large paintbrush.
- A (New) blade ~ It makes it easier to remove the paper from the perspex once the
glue has dried.
- Heater or hairdryer.

Method:

1. Cut the thin piece of paper. Make sure that it's slightly larger than needed though as the corners may rip when you begin to peel it off the Perspex (Step 6). 
2. Paint the glue evenly over the Perspex, without drowning it in the glue.
3. Place the thin rice or tissue paper over the glued Perspex and pat down. Try to avoid air bubbles. 
4. GENTLY paint more glue over the top.
5. Place in front of heater and let it dry.
6. Using a blade (20 deg angle) gently peel the paper away from the Perspex. One side will be more shiny than the other, it's important to make sure that this side is facing upward on the plate when printing.

Printing:
Remember: The procedure for Chine-Colle is simple, but it must be done without wasting any time during the critical point of gluing.

Method:

1. Cut or tear the Chine-Colle paper to the size and shape you need. It's easiest if you print the image first and use tracing paper to create a template.   - Some people may also wish to dampen the Chine-Colle paper briefly after cutting it which is fine, personally I prefer leaving it dry. If you do intend to dampen it though make sure that it is blotted well afterwards, there's nothing worse than watching someone lift up their print and realising that the glue hasn't stuck properly because it became too diluted from excess water in the paper.
2. Tear down the heavier piece of paper that will be used to support both the image and Chine-Colle. Usually Stonehenge or Fabriano Paper.
3. Ink up the plate the same way as you usually would and have it set aside ready for printing.
4. Using towels gently blot the paper in order to remove any excess water.
5. Using a paintbrush gently apply a THIN layer of the glue onto the back of the Chine-Colle and place in glue-side up on the plate in the proper place.
6. Place the plate onto the press. Remember the registration sheet.
7. Quickly place your full sheet of Stonehenge or Fabriano over the plate. If you wait too long the glue may dry.
8. Run the entire packet through the press at a normal pressure for intaglio. If when viewing the print afterwards you notice that the glue has oozed out from under the chine-colle and compromised the areas that needed to be printed with ink try loosening the pressure on the press, otherwise check that you havnt used to much glue.

~Enjoy