Photo Resistent Fused Glasswork Instructions
Photoresist film is a special type of film that hardens when exposed to UV light. It is often used to make stencils for glass etching, and can be used to etch images onto fused glass. Most photoresist products work in the same way, with the UV light setting the unexposed areas and water washing away the exposed areas, but some types work in the opposite manner. It is very important to read the instructions on the film before you begin.
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Things You'll Need
- Photo editing software
- Printer
- Computer printing paper
- Scissors
- Masking tape
- Vellum or transparency
- Photoresist film
- UV light
- Water
- Pressure washer
- Adhesive
- Foam brush
- Sandblaster
- Grit
Instructions
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Clean your fused glass piece thoroughly. You must have finished working with the glass before etching it, as well.
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Open your image in a photo editing program. Convert it to black and white, then create a negative. That is, the white parts will become black and the black parts will become white. Any black parts will be sandblasted onto your glass.
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Print the image onto plain computer paper. Cut the image to the same size as the piece of photoresist film you will use and place it against your fused glass to ensure it is the right size. Put masking tape on the glass just at the edges of the image. These will help you to position the film later.
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Print the image onto vellum transparent to UV light or onto a transparency transparent to UV light.
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Put your image onto the matte side of the film and expose it to UV light. Read the specific film instructions for the proper exposure time. Professional setups also use a rubber blanket and vacuum hose to ensure the image and film are pressed closely together.
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Rinse your film. The parts covered by the black ink in the image will wash away. You need warm water and a fairly high water pressure. You can use a pressure washer or purchase a nozzle designed for washing photoresist film. It will take about a minute or two to remove the unexposed areas. Use a smooth, even motion with the water.
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Hang the film to dry or dry it flat.
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Adhere the film to the glass, using your tape as a guide. Some films come with adhesive already applied. Others will require an adhesive designed for the film, which is applied with a foam brush. The film must be pressed firmly against the surface of the glass or it may come off during the etching process.
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Remove the cover sheet from the film carefully.
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Cover any areas on the fused glass that will be exposed to the sandblaster with more masking tape.
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Set the sandblaster to about 20 psi and go over the piece in slow, even strokes from a few inches away. You need an abrasive grit between sizes 180 and 220. Do not blast through the film.
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Remove all the tape and film and clean the glass.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not leave photoresist paper in the light for long periods of time, and do not handle it in sunlight.
Fused glass pieces are often small, though not always. Use a clamp or a device to hold the glass in place while you work.
References
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
