Tutorial: Using silicone color shapers on gel plates
TUTORIAL
Color shapers, or silicone “brushes,” are seriously one of my favorite tools for working on a gel plate.
They’ve got this flexible, soft tip that glides over the gel plate surface.
And the best part? They won’t scratch or damage your plate.
Let’s get started…
ADD THE PAINT AND MAKE YOUR MARKS
To get started, add some paint to your gel plate.
Here, I’m using an opaque purple paint to get a nice, bold masked effect. You can use whatever color you like—just keep in mind that opaque paints will give you the masked result… a good paint brand will tell you the opacity on the bottle or tube.
Now for the fun part: use the color shaper to “draw” on the plate. You’re actually removing paint as you make your marks, revealing the bare gel plate underneath.
It’s a great way to get clean, bold designs.
Make sure to wipe off any excess paint from the color shaper onto some scrap paper as you go so your lines stay crisp and you aren’t transferring removed paint back on to the plate.
TIME TO PRINT
For this print, I’m using a piece of paper that already has a print on it. Adding your design to a pre-printed background gives your print extra depth and a cool layered look.
When you’re ready, lay your paper down on the plate, press evenly, let sit for a few minutes, and then pull your print to reveal your awesome design!
Happy printing, and have fun experimenting!
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