Release Agent looks white in the jar but rolls up clear and colourless. It has a soft, buttery consistency and cleans up with liquid dish detergent.

Release Agent has three purposes:

a)     It is required to release Akua Colour brushwork from plate to paper when hand-printing monotypes with the Pin Press.

b)     It is used for making ghost prints. A ghost print is the second print from a monotype plate that has been inked only one time. It is a lighter version of the same image. By rolling Release Agent over the plate, it helps to transfer the remaining ink off the plate and onto another sheet of paper.

c)     Release Agent helps soften the metallic ink to transfer off the plate and onto the paper easily. Roll Akua Release Agent over the metallic ink that was applied to the plate.

Instructions:

1.     For Ghost Print: Roll Release Agent on top of the ghost plate. Wait about five minutes and then print.

2.     For Metallic Ink: Ross or paint Metallic ink on the plate. Roll Release Agent over the metallic. Wait about five minutes and then print.

Akua Pigment Modifiers

Various modifiers are available for special effects and for changing the consistency of the ink. Akua’s innovative line of modifiers allows artists to cater to Akua Inks’ viscosity and transparency to suit their printmaking project ideally. Each of the seven modifiers listed below carries the AP Seal.

TACK THICKENER Thickens Akua Liquid Pigment for use with brayers. Add about 10% Tack Thickener to 90% ink. It is medium amber in colour and has the consistency of molasses.

BLENDING MEDIUM Create wash effects or use them as a resist in monotype printmaking. It is a clear liquid. (Also used to thin Akua Intaglio ink.)

RETARDER Slows drying rate and acts as a release for Akua Liquid Pigment. A few drops in the ink are essential when printing on dry paper. Especially helpful in hot, dry or very cold climates. It is a clear liquid.

EXTENDER Makes Akua Liquid Pigment more transparent and reconstitutes air-thickened ink. It is light amber in colour with a liquid consistency.

TRANSPARENT BASE the Akua Intaglio ink base without any pigment. Add Akua Liquid Pigment to Transparent Base to thicken the ink for use with brayers and create new colours for intaglio printmaking.

RELEASE AGENT Highly recommended for monotype printing with Akua Liquid Pigment, this modifier helps produce rich prints with minimal pressure. Also, it can be rolled over a ghost impression, then printed for a more complete transfer of the remaining ink to the paper.

MAG MIX (Also Called Ink Stiffener) Use with Akua Intaglio. Mix into Akua Intaglio ink to add depth and stiffen the ink. It is clear in colour with a stiff consistency. It is not suitable for Akua Liquid Pigment.