PURETCH2X Available in 24” wide rolls at 10 and 50’ long, 6x36” sample size also available.

Photo-etching is a time tested technique and now it can be done with a dry film without compromising air quality, resolution, plate durability and traditional plate manipulation. Puretch is a dry film photoresist for etching copper and other metals. It was designed for the highest resolution etching possible with a dry film; the thinner the film the higher the resolution. It is ideal for high resolution halftone positives and fine line etch applications. Puretch is for the intaglio printmaking purist that wants to traditionally etch the image and have complete control over the plate surface and edition.

Pronounced: purETCH, not purTECH

L-R Transparency, developed plate, printed etching. Puretch film vs thicker films which will not develop completely to etch fine details.

Puretch2X features:

Puretch is THE thinnest photopolymer film on market!

exposes with a positive, (negative working)

thinnest film yields highest resolution etch capability

1/1200 inch lines and spaces

yields consistent and predictable results

easy to apply and etch

use on any metal with most any etchant

safe when used properly

water based processing

durable enough for deep etch with ferric chloride

wide exposure latitude

Electro Etching with Puretch: One of our customers writes in regarding the feasibility of using Puretch with the electrical etching process.

"I'm delighted to report that it works beautifully! It's very robust and reliable with this etching process. Even very small areas of resist are able to withstand the electric fields. It just hangs on -- I'm having a great success reproducing very fine details."

Two plates exposed with a point light Thicker films will not produce high resolution etchable resists. With thicker films, the light creeps in and undercuts the dots through the thickness of the film and hardens the film against the plate for all except large dots, thus not exposing the metal to the etchant. This diagram also demonstrates the need for a point light and not flourescents. Flourescents cause exaggerated undercutting because light is being cast from many different angles. The sun is the ultimate point light.

Puretch advantages

Highest halftone resolution of dry film resists

conventionally etched plates can print longer editions and/or be steel faced

no pre-thinning of film necessary

etched plates can be reworked with traditional processes

Image applications

digitally generated ink jet and laser printed halftones

digitally imageset halftones and bitmaps

kodalith halftones and positives

photocopy on mylar

india ink or toner wash on frosted mylar

airbrush, pencil, pen or crayon drawing on vellum or frosted mylar...

Processing Basics

film can be easily laminated by hand with common materials

detailed instructions included with film purchase

Other Puretch photoresist uses

photo etching silver and copper jewelry

photo engraved metal plaques or signs

fine line printed circuit board production (pcb)

chemical milling

Electro Etching process

Steel Pad printing cliches