Are you drawn to the idea of Tetra Pak Printmaking? Tetra Pak Printing is super easy, and an affordable intaglio printing method to carry out at home.
Intaglio is a method of printmaking where an etching needle is used to impress marks for your design into the printing surface. One then applies the printing ink into the marks.
Intaglio requires thicker paper that is soaked in water in order to make its fibers flexible and for it to react with the ink. When pressure is applied to the paper and the plate, the paper fibers are pushed into the design on the plate picking up the ink.
Here in the UK tetra pak is often used for vegan milks and cartons of juice but do check the packaging details and don’t assume, there is the odd alternative material used on occasion!
The beauty of this method of printing at home is that you do not need an etching press. You can easily adapt a pasta machine or a die cut machine as an affordable printing press. Although I can’t promise you won’t become addicted and drawn to an etching press in future.
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Tetra Pak Printing Press
To create your own printing press at home you will need a pasta-making machine or die cut machine, along with card, paper and a wool blanket. Check out Sally Hirst’s post on the variety of die cut machines available. The Xpress Xcut embossing machine is often favoured due to the adjustable pressure but sadly, they are no longer made.
When the printing plate passes through the rollers it should feel slightly tricky, best described as a bite. Once you have had a play you will see what I mean. If it is not sufficiently sandwiched the print will be very pale, if so add more layers of paper or card to the press to rectify this.
What ink is used in Tetra Pak printing?
Here in the UK there are two common oil based etching inks frequently used for intaglio printing, Akua Intaglio Ink and Cranfield Relief Inks. Both clean up with soap and water however it is advisable to wear gloves when inking your printing plate to protect your hands.
How to Tetra Pak Print
Start with a clean piece of tetra pak. Cut open your tetra pak carton and thoroughly wash and dry. Cut a piece out.
Add texture to your tetra pak to create a pattern when printed. There are many ways of adding pattern and texture to Tetra Pak, have fun exploring.
Spread ink into the surface in a circular motion, ensuring it is rubbed into all the grooves of the design. An old toothbrush works well.
Wipe off the excess ink using an old cloth followed by skrim.
Soak a thick piece of paper in water and blot on an old towel.
Place your printing plate face upwards, followed by your damp paper.
Place the etching plate face up followed by the damp paper, a futher layer of paper and a wool blanket. Turn the handle for your die cut machine and print your print.
How to create texture on Tetra Pak
There are SO many ways to create texture on Tetra Pak!! I’ve explored the regular ways and have unique suggestions for you:
Etching Tools
The most common tool, the etching tool allows you to carve into your tetra pak creating fine lines and details. Think about mark making when you use a pencil, for example dots, dashes, hatching. Different etching tools will form different textures.
Craft Knife
This can be used to carve shapes, cut out a layer of tetra pak forming a dark shape on the print or even cut out holes.
Pattern Tracing Wheel
With a pattern tracing wheel you can make consistent marks into the tetrapak.
Screwdriver A flat headed screwdriver creates indentations into the tetra pak, almost like individual running stitches. I have to admit this was a random idea and I thought why not try it!
Glue
I have experimented with wood glue dribbled on tetra pak. Although I LOVE the print the glue peeled off the tetra pak as a result of printing one sheet of paper, and took some of the surface off the damp paper. I am going to explore this further, I’m going to try PVA or a coat of shellac over the plate before printing.
Seam Ripper
Don’t have the funds for an etching tool? Do you have a seam ripper to hand? This worked well as a mark makign tool on the tetra pak, and was easy to control.
Tape
There are so may tapes to try. Personally I love the effect of crumpled insulation tape, and this print I have paired it with pleated paper tape. When you ink up the pleats it’s hard to rub all the excess ink off so you may have sections of your pleats much darker than others.
Biro Pen
The beauty of pens is everyone has them to hand, make sure you press down to ensure you gain good grooves in the tetra pak.
Needlefelt needle
This is very fine and rather bendy, I found it quite hard to control, having said that it could give a great sense of movement, I’m thinking of grasses blowing in the wind as I type.
Hand embroidery
Ooh, so many options here!! Different threads will absorb more or less of the printing ink, never mind the thickness of the thread you stitch with impacting the resulting print. This sample is simply basic stitches and french knots. The possibilities are endless…
Sewing Machine stitches
At the risk of repeating myself another endless method of creating tecture on your tetrak pak. Running stitch, zig zag, couching different thicknesses of threads….
Hole Punch
With a hole punch you can cut out the tetra pak or imprint a circle shape into the tetra pak.
As a result of playing with the hole punch I definitley prefer the cut out holes over the imprint of circles in the finished print.
Fabric & Netting
You can play with taping different fabrics or nets to the tetra pak. I have experimented with fruit netting and hessian, held in place with tape.
With all these fabulous samples I have created a concertina reference sketchbook I can return to again and again.
Dont forget to pin for later:
Are you looking for inspiration for your intaglio printmaking? Check out my Printmaking Inspiration Board.
Love printing at home? Have you tried Gelli Plate Printing? An equally fabulous printing technique to explore.
