Create your own Embossing
Materials
Safety Glasses - Bristol Board - Xacto Knife - 22 Gauge Copper Sheet - or 22 Gauge Brass Sheet - Rolling Mill - Bracelet Mandrel (Oval) - |
Use the Bristol board to create a design plate.
Using the roller for Impressions
1. Metal to be imprinted must be annealed, dry and clean.
2. Pattern imprinted will be a reverse of the design (important to remember if using letters and numbers in the design).
3. An object placed between two pieces of metal will create a recess in the metal (intaglio; a mechanical 'etching' effect). As the 'metal sandwich' passes between the rolls and is compressed, the imprinting material is pushed into the metal. Be careful not to roll the imprint so that the metal becomes too thin.
4. Make one pass only! Carefully adjust the gap by attempting to roll the first 1/2 inch (1 cm) or so. Trial and error and experience, along with written notes, are all part of this process. Once the correct gap is calculated, roll the whole piece in one continuous roll. Try not to stop part way through the pass.
5. To emboss: use a plate with negative spaces so that when rolled the metal plates push into the recessed shapes on the pattern.
2. Pattern imprinted will be a reverse of the design (important to remember if using letters and numbers in the design).
3. An object placed between two pieces of metal will create a recess in the metal (intaglio; a mechanical 'etching' effect). As the 'metal sandwich' passes between the rolls and is compressed, the imprinting material is pushed into the metal. Be careful not to roll the imprint so that the metal becomes too thin.
4. Make one pass only! Carefully adjust the gap by attempting to roll the first 1/2 inch (1 cm) or so. Trial and error and experience, along with written notes, are all part of this process. Once the correct gap is calculated, roll the whole piece in one continuous roll. Try not to stop part way through the pass.
5. To emboss: use a plate with negative spaces so that when rolled the metal plates push into the recessed shapes on the pattern.
INCREASE EMBOSSING EFFECT: when roller printing a thin gauge of metal, you can enhance the embossing by padding the back of the metal with layers of paper and rolling with more compression.
Tape Method
MASKING TAPE: masking tape will provide a textured pattern recessed into the surface of the metal. Lay tape out on a sheet of glass and cut desired shapes with a blade. Lift pieces off and apply to the metal. Because the tape adheres to the metal, there is little movement of the design during the rolling process. Multiple layers can be used to give variety of depths.
Wire Section- Rolling Mill
WIRE SECTION OF ROLLING MILL: rolling sheet metal through the grooved wire section of the rolls produces a corrugated effect. If the metal is passed through again at a different angle a cross-hatched pattern is achieved. Turned 90 degrees produces a chequered effect.
Using Texture plates-Manufactured Plates
Hard metal objects (steel) should only be used in the two-sided ('metal sandwich') method, as they may damage the steel rolls.