How can I prevent pinholes and fisheyes?Updated 3 hours ago
Having trouble with pesky pinholes or fisheyes in your emulsion? We've got a few solutions for that.
- Clean your dark room - Oftentimes the dark room can be the dirtiest part of your set up, after all, it likely has a washout booth and maybe your inks and so many other things that can create dust, dirt, and grime. Dusting your dark room and cleaning it up can make a world of difference in this aspect. If you find this to be near impossible in your space, a drying cabinet can go a long way to protecting your screens while the emulsion cures.
- Clean your exposure unit - The glass on your exposure unit will get dirty with use. Fingerprints, dust, dirt, and adhesive can block the light from the exposure unit. Use a glass cleaner and a rag to remove any debris. Be careful not to scuff or otherwise damage the glass.
- Degrease your screens - Degreasing is not a step to be missing in the reclaim process. Degreasing removes any oils, dust, and dirt from the mesh, all of which can cause issues in the adhesion of your emulsion.
- Use a water filter - Hard or soft water residue can cause issues with emulsion sticking to a screen. Mineral deposits left on the mesh can lead to pinholes and issues with durability. Find out whether your tap is hard or soft and pick up a filter to minimize the mineral deposits
To learn more about preventing pinholes, watch this video.