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this post was submitted on 19 Feb 2025
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I have been thinking about this and looking for sources. The tattoo industry found a use for mimeograph paper to transfer guidelines onto skin. So there are sources for the paper on tattoo supply sites.
But your suggestion got me thinking about a hybrid method for the hectograph.
The gelatin layer in a sheet pan acts as a receptive surface for the ink on the transfer paper. It then releases a bit of the ink each time you make an impression.
I wonder if a laser cut stencil could be placed on the hectograph surface and ink paste squeegeed onto that. Remove the stencil and make multiple impressions. Sort of like the process for putting solder paste onto a board you are going to reflow solder?
This would bypass the need for the transfer paper entirely and allow creation of digital designs. Thanks for the inspiration. The only remaining piece to try this idea is finding the right ink formula.
The traditional smell of mimeograph comes from the aniline dyes, which are toxic AF and require care in handling and good air flow. But other inks may not do well on the gelatin. Aniline dyes are only slightly soluble in water which means the impression on the gelatin surface doesn’t wick away quickly and remains sharp long enough to make multiple copies. Overnight the ink gets absorbed and diffused, allowing the gelatin to be re-used many times.
Interesting ideas. Thanks for the inspiration.
I hope it works out! Laser etchers are great for stencils (I use them a lot for spray paint). They work best when cutting thick cardstock or thin cardboard which happens to be a far superior stencil material to the thin paper I used to use when I had to cut them by hand. It basically makes a superior stencil while also being way easier and faster than cutting (and glueing) all the finicky little details.
I think the downside to the method you're thinking of (assuming I understand it and you're not talking about a mimeograph stencil) is that you'd have to design it around avoiding islands, as with single layer spray paint stencils. Not a deal breaker by any means, but also perhaps not quite as detailed as the mimeograph paper could do.
I really like the idea of mixing these old and new techs so I'd love to hear about any progress you make