Sticky tape is great for printmaking, particularly making collagraph plates, because it is instant – no waiting for glue to dry. Cut it, tear it, wrinkle it, melt it, cover stuff up with it, mask areas to add more textures or temporarily protect what’s underneath…

There is a whole world of interesting tape out there just waiting for you; tape made from fabric, pvc, plastic, paper and metal, not to mention the home-made sticky tapes you can make for yourself with textures of your choice.

I am packing up my studio in preparation for a move, and this is giving me the chance to sort out lots of accumulated treasures. I keep on finding rolls of sticky tape, in drawers and boxes, on shelves, and in cupboards. I love tape, but I surprised myself at the amount and variety I have squirreled away.

I suspect the world of self adhesive tape is ever expanding, so this is not an exhaustive list and may well be the first post in a series. I really hope you will also send me information about your personal favourite sticky tapes for pritnmaking, or any unusual ones you have discovered so we can produce a great sticky tape encyclopaedia for printmakers.

This is a chance for all tape nerds to come out and play!

rolls of aluminium sticky tape for printmaking

Aluminium tape

Conventionally used for: heatproofing surfaces, sealing aluminium covered insulation board and central heating ducting.
Curious printmakers use it for:
Dry point, embossing, encapsulating textures

Notes
Sticks to almost anything, even over inked up plates.
A brilliant general plate surface which prints light with intaglio and receives all sorts of marks, moulds itself round other shapes and textures.

Make sure you buy the aluminium tape with a paper backing. See the following posts for more details; printing plates from aluminium tape, and embossed aluminium printing plates

Get it from Diy or hardware stores.

electrical sticky tape for printmaking

Electrical insulation tape

Conventionally used for: making naked wires safe.

Curious printmakers use it for: masking lino for etching, and building up stepped layers on collagraph plates.

Notes
Does not tear, sticks to smooth surfaces really strongly but can be removed.
For more information on using it for masking when etching lino see this post.

rolls of sticky fabric tape for printmaking

Fabric tape

Conventionally used for: general craft projects

Curious printmakers use it for: fabric texture holds ink and creates rich dark areas on collagraph plates.

Notes
Very coarse woven tape can hold too much ink and be hard to print. Fine woven tape gives strong broad lines.

Get it from general craft suppliers 

3 magnets on magnetic tape

Magnetic tape

Conventionally used for: fridge magnets, magnetic closures on boxes and other craft projects.

Curious printmakers use it for: exhibition and display walls

Notes
Convert a wall into a print display area with magnetic tape and fridge magnets.

Get it from Baker Ross and other suppliers…

regular masking tape used for printmaking

Regular masking tape

Conventionally used for: masking off areas when painting and decorating buildings.

Curious printmakers use it for: temporarily masking areas of the plate before spreading tile cement or acrylic gel on. Also stuck to the plate to make a permanent mid-tone textured surface.

Notes
Tear it for interesting organic shapes.
If using as a mask it can be helpful to dust it with talc to prevent it being too sticky and tearing the surface of the plate.
Surface texture can vary between brands of masking tape.
See these posts for more information on masking:
masking for fabric printing.
making printed cushions
silk aquatint

Get it from Diy shops, painting and decorating stores, art shops, hardware stores.

narrow masking tape for printmaking

Narrow masking tape

Conventionally used for: masking fine lines when spray painting vehicles

Curious printmakers use it for: masking fine lines, ‘drawing’ with it on the plate to create raised areas.

Notes
Comes in different widths, 1mm – 5mm. As it is narrow it can form curves and other shapes or be overlapped and built up into textures.

Get it from Fine line masking tapes, Vehicle spray suppliers, airbrush suppliers.

flexible masking tape for printmaking

Flexible masking tape

Conventionally used for: decorators going round corners

Curious printmakers use it for: crepe paper crinkled texture means it is flexible. It will create interesting darker textures.

Notes
Good for water or tree bark effect. Really nice when it has a torn edge.

Get it from Diy shops, painting and decorating stores.

medical sticky tape for printmaking

Medical tape

Conventionally used for: Micropore / Elastoplast for fixing dressings

Curious printmakers use it for: fabric texture holds ink and creates rich dark areas.

Notes
Very coarse woven tape can hold too much ink and be hard to print. Fine woven tape gives strong broad lines.

Get it from Chemists, pharmacies, on line.

brown parcel tape for printmaking

Brown parcel tape

Conventionally used for: thin shiny brown plastic tape, used for wrapping parcels for posting

Curious printmakers use it for: making smooth shiny surfaces on collagraph plates, as well as other textures….

Notes
Can be torn or cut before and/or after sticking down to the plate. Melt it with candles for lacy patterns. A soldering iron will melt lines in it. Wrinkle it as you stick it down for craggy rocky textures.
Best stuck directly to a flat plate, not over other textured surfaces.

Get it from stationers, diy shops, post offices

I admit it – I am a tape nerd and I would love to hear from you. Please do feel free to send me pictures and info about the sticky tapes you like to use and how it works for you. There is space for your comments below…..