Review on PRINTING Gelli Arts Amazing Pictures by Nicole Mcleod

Overall this is an amazing product. I learned how to use them with YouTube videos. but here's what they don't tell you, and these are very important points. If you don't know these points, you will completely ruin the record the first time. #1 Don't put the Gelli plate on graphite, including line art. I included a pencil drawing as a guide and the graphite has been fully incorporated into the panel (see photo). I mean the whole pattern is printed on the plate and can't be cleaned (this pattern is on the gel plate not paper and it's there forever. I used soap and water with a strong cloth and it didn't do anything else causes than wiping the glossy surface The irreparably broken acrylic paint #2 dries very quickly when applied. I mean instantly, and the surface is impossible to edit. None of the videos I watched recommended a retarder, which I later found out to be key. Pure acrylic dries quickly and the thinner the layer (recommended) the faster it dries. They watch the video but they don't tell you anything about this important point. #3, if you try to use, for example, a soft tool to "write" on dry acrylic, it will scratch the surface. it skips the drawing, perforating the gel sheet. I figured if I was working on dry acrylic paint by splashing water it would loosen the dry paint. this only makes matters worse, and printing on paper results in an ugly print. #4 Please use water-based acrylic inks. They have a much longer service life. Acrylic paint, you all only work with flame retardants. and much more otherwise the plates are quite nice. I have just bought my third as the first two were beyond repair. My fault, but now I know better.