So is this what expired emulsion looks like?
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- Shamax
- Master Screen Printer
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- Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2012 7:08 am
- Location: Charleston, WV
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So is this what expired emulsion looks like?
Still using the WBP Dual Cure Emulsion that came with my Ryonet starter kit. I added the activator at the very end of November, and it says it has a shelf life of 2-3 months once mixed (can be prolonged by storing in a cool place, yada yada yada). I've kept it stashed under the bathroom sink cabinet, behind a bunch of other stuff away from the light. Normal exposure time is about 12 minutes, and had a few spot on successes at that time... until the past week. Twice now, I've tried exposing this one particular design with the same effect, it appears as though it's not washing out of the more open areas as completely:
..some of the smaller areas aren't washing out at all:
..and I'm getting other weird "artifacts" happening at the edges:
So time to break out the new stuff I assume?
Andy Barker
Owner/Operator of Fragile Branch
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Owner/Operator of Fragile Branch
Store: http://fragilebranch.storenvy.com
Site/blog: http://www.fragilebranch.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FragileBranch
Re: So is this what expired emulsion looks like?
Typically when an emulsion goes bad it washes out completely since the Diazo is now not active. The pictures that you took lead me to thoughts of pre exposure somewhere. Is this a possibility in your process?
- Shamax
- Master Screen Printer
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2012 7:08 am
- Location: Charleston, WV
- Contact:
Re: So is this what expired emulsion looks like?
I don't know of any occasion where it could have happened, I'm pretty OCD when it comes to playing with my emulsion and keeping the whole process light-safe. I only coat/expose at night with a single yellow light-safe bulb to work by, aside from that, the emulsion is kept in the back of a cabinet under the bathroom sink with the lid on tight. Any time I do have to open that cabinet, I turn off what lights I can, and grab what I need out of the cabinet ASAP (yeah.. a *TINY* bit OCD). I did two successful screens about a month ago, but even on one of those, I saw an area or two in the more open spots where it looked like smaller bits didn't wash out completely (though it didn't affect the prints at all). Regardless, I should have some new stuff to play with soon enough thanks to the Emulsion Genie
Andy Barker
Owner/Operator of Fragile Branch
Store: http://fragilebranch.storenvy.com
Site/blog: http://www.fragilebranch.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FragileBranch
Owner/Operator of Fragile Branch
Store: http://fragilebranch.storenvy.com
Site/blog: http://www.fragilebranch.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FragileBranch
Re: So is this what expired emulsion looks like?
To be honest the bucket does not need to be in a dark area for storage. Theat is why most Mfg. put them in a black bucket. As far as the screen goes, small amounts of stray light wont affect it that much. What is puzzling to me is the fact that you are getting fogging behind the 21step guide. If it was only the film positive I would say it is a light positive. But the 21 step scale is telling me different. I am leaning that it is not the emulsion being old is the broblem but......it wouldnt hurt to get some fresh material and give it another go.