DTP Photogravure - Making a Plate - Things You'll Need

This is the definitely not exhaustive list of the things you'll need to make a plate. It is the list of the things I use to make my plates and I'll try to include some options. And I don't mean start to finish - I mean only to make a plate. The DTP printing, exposing, developing and actual printing stuff...they'll be covered in their own section later.

THE BASE MATERIAL You'll need PETG for the substrate. I get my in Toronto, ON from Laird Plastics. They ship anywhere in Canada, they're helpful and fast and they work with small orders. They're a massive company used to delivering huge orders but will take the time to personally handle a tiny order of 2 sheets of 48"x96" cut twice - with a follow up email and a smile. I usually get 0.020" but I'm considering getting a bit of 0.030" in the new year because I think I can use a bit more rigid base for bigger plates. The smallest possible order is 4'x8' sheet and for starters that will provide you with enough PETG to make mistakes and a large number of plates before you have to re-order.

THE DRY RESIST FILM You'll need film. I'm not going to get into any great detail here - there are issues with what it's called and where you can get what kind, and who is your local distributor. The current, meaningful repository of options and where you can get them is a companion to David Kachel's book, 21st Century Dry Film Polymer (Direct-to-Plate) Photogravure, (which you can get here - I highly recommend it - it was my best friend at the start of the pandemic) or shared as a document in the Photogravure group on Facebook. You'll need enough to make a few sheets. I made at least 30 plates before I got any good at it. Gratefully, it is a relatively inexpensive process and the PETG can be reused a number of times.

WORKSPACE & TOOLS Once you have film and PETG you've pretty much managed the stuff that's hard to acquire. Everything else you can pretty much get at Canadian Tire or Home Depot or your local hardware store (I also highly recommend this - your local guy/gal will be much more helpful than a poor overworked underpaid 'expert' in an orange apron). You will need:

1. A squeegee - 6, or 8 inches (15 or 20cm) - a hard one

2. A spray bottle/mister - like you'd use for spraying house plants

3. A tray that's at least as big as the plate you want to make and a few centimetres deep

4. A workspace where you can setup the tray and a flat surface next to it

5. A hair dryer - make sure it's new or clean or you'll blow old hair and dust onto your plates and that's NOT a good thing

6. some lint-free type of wipe or towel

7. One or a couple yellow bug lights - I use these. I got them at CT but can't find them in stock now. And I got the LEDs to reduce power usage and heat.
   

Lastly. you'll need a light-tight place to store your plates until you're ready to print and expose them - a black bag, a light box, a bag inside a drawer...whatever works for you but if there's ambient light that leaks in...be prepared to be disappointed.