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Coating Fabric step-by-step Procedure:
Preparation
Brushing
Drying DOP
Drying POPTIP: First learn to coat paper. Otherwise you will most likely get blotchy
results and can waste a lot of material.
Preparation Steps:
Ambient work area preparation differs for DOP and POP and is an important step for consistency and quality. For DOP, the temperature should be kept below 70oF and the relative humidity (RH) below 40%, although higher RH does not seem to affect results. For POP, the temperature should be kept below 70oF and the relative humidity (RH) between 40% and 70%. Have brush soaking in a tray of H2O.
Have mixture ready in shot glass.
Note: Remember fabric will require about three times the chemistry of paper.Top of Page
Brushing Steps:
Place fabric on glass or plastic sheet with the desired side up (see Raw Materials - Substrates - Fabric).
Mark on the fabric the area to be coated with pencil dots at corners.
With brush well soaked, remove it from the water and squeegee hard between a clean paper towel.
Take most of the water out of the brush; brush should be just damp, not wet.
Note: This procedure is intended to keep the chemistry from being sucked up into the
brush or from being diluted.
Dip brush into the shot glass of coating mixture.
Brush back and forth and up and down over a small area of the delineated fabric.
Note: Keep coated areas wet with mixture. Do NOT brush thinly and let sit.
Note: Work quickly. If an area dries, then marks may appear in the print.
Note: Fabric is much more durable than paper. Brushing may be quite rough.
Note: Be careful not to catch fabric and cause a fold or crease. The fabric will
tend to expand when wet. Slight pulling from the sides will keep it flat.
However, do not fasten or stretch the fabric in place.
Note: Occasionally run wet (with mixture) brush over all coated areas to keep wet.
Re-dip the brush and coat another area adjacent to the one just coated.
Repeat the last step until the entire area is coated.
Run wet (with mixture) brush in long strokes over entire coated area in every direction. This will force the mixture into the fabric. Also brush any air bubbles out to side.
When fabric seems completely soaked, but before any areas have started to dry, lift the fabric off of the glass or plastic sheet.
Note: There will be many small puddles of coating mixture left on the glass or plastic
sheet. Do not let the fabric touch any of these once it is lifted and begins to dry.
Note: From this point on do not let any liquid, or drops, or spray, or fingers touch the
coating, because doing so will leave a mark in the print. Also, do not let the
coated fabric touch itself.
Hang the fabric up on a line with clips or clothes pins.
Clean and dry the glass or plastic sheet. Residual coating mixture should be recycled if practicable. Drying the Coating:
Drying methods differ for DOP and POP.
Drying steps for DOP
Dry the hanging, coated fabric with gentile blow and low to medium heat.
Note: A few clips to weight the bottom will keep the fabric from blowing around.
When fabric is dry place it onto the clean and dry plastic or glass sheet.
Dry further with the hair dryer at high blow and medium heat until "bone dry".
Note: It may be a good idea to tape or hold the end of the fabric toward the hair
dryer.
Note: It is desirable to use heat, but do not get coating too hot (over 140oF may do
damage.)
Note: Coating must be "bone dry" for exposing.
Once the fabric is completely dry, it is ready for exposure.
Load into the printing frame and go immediately to exposure. Do not store the coated fabric. Top of Page
Drying steps for POP:
Dry the hanging, coated fabric with gentile blow and NO heat.
Note: A few clips to weight the bottom will keep the fabric from blowing around.
Note: Coating must be at ambient relative humidity for exposing.
Once the fabric is at the ambient relative humidity, it is ready for exposure.
Load into the contact printing frame and go immediately to exposure. Do not store the coated fabric.