The use of Speedball Screenfiller in non-toxic-printmaking. Some examples (source Keith Howard)

 

"Stencil Intaglio-Type"
The Stencil Intaglio Type is a wonderful technique that uses the top Mylar of the ImagOn film as an integral part of the plate making process. After the ImagOn plate has been exposed to the Aquatint Screen, draw stencil areas onto the top ImagOn Mylar with a dry eraser marker. After the stencil shapes have been drawn, cut them out with a sharp scalpel or snap-blade cutter. Just cut through the ImagOn Mylar so that cut out shapes can be removed from the ImagOn plate. Once all the mylar stencils have been removed, develop the plate in normal soda ash developer for 9 minutes. After development wash and dry it. Then remove the rest of the Mylar. The new atreas can now be worked with the Spit-Bite Intaglio-Type technique. After these are finished, the entire plate can be worked on with the Speedball Screen Filler.

1.
Laminate the ImagOn film to the plate.

2.
Mix three batches of different strength soda ash developer: Mild (10 grms. of soda ash to 1 litre water.) Medium (25 gms to 1 litre water) Strong (50 gms to 1 litre water)
3.
Expose the ImagOn plate to the Aquatint screen for the normal aquatint exposure.
4.
Draw areas to be stenciled with dry erase or Crayola water soluble markers.
5.

Cut through the ImagOn Mylar and remove the cut out Mylar shapes. It is not necessary to cut all the way through the ImagOn emulsion to the plate.
6.
After all the ImagOn Mylar stencils have been removed from the plate, place it in the normal ImagOn developer for 9 minutes.
7.
After development, stabilize the "open" areas of the ImagOn emulsion with vinegar; rinse with water and dry.
8.

Have the three previously prepared amounts of soda ash spit-bite developers ready. Remove the rest of the ImagOn Mylar.

9.

Now, work on the dark blueish areas of the ImagOn plate with the spit-bite solution. Try to avoid getting the spit-bite solutions on the already developed areas of the plate which will cause "open-biting"

10.
Once the spit-bite areas have been created, wash them thorougly and stabilize with the vinegar wash.
11.

Paint the Screen Filler or acrylic gloss medium onto the plate.
12.
When the screen filler completely dries, the plate can be proofed.
13.
Once you have proofed the plate and decided that the spit-bite areas are satisfactory, light fix the plate with a 3 minute second blast of UV exposure unit light.