This process is very simple:
Combine washing up liquid, metallic powder & binder.
The first prints I produced:
The print on the left had binder in, the other two just metallic powder and washing up liquid. The middle print is mostly washing up liquid, whilst the print on the right is mostly metallic powder.
I was let down by these prints, as the scratch card effect didn't work at all.
Trying Again with Different Stock
I felt that one reason my prints weren't working was due to my choice of stock. The ink needs to sit on top of the paper, and not be absorbed.
Below: Prints produced on a variety of different stock. From left to right: acetate, tracing paper, smooth black stock, and photo paper.
Black Stock
Having gone over the print several times, the previous print became invisible. However, it also proved hard to scratch off.
Tracing Paper
In terms of the effect, this seemed to work very well. The gold can be scratched off, but the print below remains where it is. One disadvantage is that the stock becomes warped and crinkled.
Results from Other Stock
Despite printing over the image over 5 or 6 times, the writing proved difficult to mask. I also added some copper metallic powder to the gold pearlescent, in order to make the mixture darker.
Cartridge Paper:
Smooth, black stock:
Acetate: This seemed to be effective, but also removed the text underneath.
Photopaper:
This is by far the most effective way of printing. The writing beneath the scratch card area is clear, and the scratch card is easy to remove.
Conclusion
The only way to use this process is using photo paper. The effect works with acetate and tracing paper, but both have their own drawbacks that effect the overall finish. The process itself is very time consuming, and difficult to line up prints when over printing several times. This has been the most difficult process I have tried (in terms of screen printing), but well worth it. It's key to keep your design simple, with just a blow being printed.
