We’ve finally picked a brand to complement our existing watersoluble Aquawash by Charbonnel. And what brand… nothing but the best here! Gamblin is a very high quality American firm with ambition : “At Gamblin, our mission is to lead oil painting and printmaking into the future. To us this means crafting materials as they ought to be, not just as they have been. Our luscious colors and contemporary mediums are true to historic working properties, yet safer and more permanent.” And… it’s true!! Read on if you want to know more about the ranges:
Gamblin Etching Inks
Gamblin Etching Inks were formulated at the request of professional printmakers in the Pacific Northwest who wanted strong reliable inks for edition printing. The palette of pure intense pigments offers a broad range of color mixing potential.
Five black inks and Graphite were formulated to meet the demands of printmakers who want deep rich black inks with good working characteristics. Portland Black and Portland Cool Black are ideal for edition printing; both offer a strong line and medium plate tone. For engravers, printers of mezzotints, or others who need more resistance from their ink, Portland Stiff Black is also available. To read more about selecting the Black ink most suited to your printmaking process, read our latest newsletter here.
Gamblin Relief Inks
Gamblin Relief Inks are formulated for all relief techniques, including woodblock, linocut, monotype, and Solarplate. They contain the right amount of stiffness and tack to hold fine detail yet spread evenly on the block or plate. The palette of ten colors is designed to give artists intense pure pigmented colors straight from the jar, along with a wide range of color mixing capabilities.
Monotype printmaking, the most painterly of printmaking techniques, is very popular. While most painters and printmakers working in this process learn how to make any kind of ink work, the viscosity of Gamblin Relief Inks makes them ideal for monotype printing processes.
Gamblin Etching and Relief Inks are all bound in the highest quality Burnt Plate Oil.
Gamblin Ink Modifiers
Depending on the printmaking technique, the inks may need to be adjusted slightly with one of our modifiers in order to print perfectly. Temperature and humidity, the type of plate, and type of paper all affect how inks perform.
Burnt Plate Oils
Burnt Plate Oils are used to lower the viscosity of the ink. Burnt Plate Oil should be added to inks sparingly, as the detail of a print may be lost if the ink becomes too fluid. Burnt Plate Oil #000 has less tack and is a good match for use with Gamblin Relief Inks. Burnt Plate Oil #2 has a higher tack and is the primary oil binder for Gamblin Etching Inks.
Tack Reducer
Tack Reducer is a gel made from a very light drying oil, making it completely compatible with the inks. Small amounts added to ink will efficiently reduce tack. Tack Reducer is transparent to allow the intensity of an inks color to be maintained.
Magnesium Carbonate
Magnesium Carbonate is traditionally used to stiffen ink. It will also reduce an ink’s gloss level. Once added to ink, Magnesium Carbonate becomes transparent and will not alter the color of the ink. We recommend adding small amounts at a time; little is needed to add body to an ink. Mix well. It can be used with both Etching and Relief Inks.
Gamsol
Gamsol, the safest 100% pure odorless mineral spirit available, enables printmakers to easily modify inks and is great for studio clean-up, eliminating the need for stronger solvents. Gamsol is much safer because harmful aromatic components have been removed.
And, of course, to celebrate the new ranges… a little discount in the store!
