5. After you apply all of the leaf, buff it down with
cotton balls. Keep going until you remove all
of the excess leaf and the remaining surface is
smooth and polished. Collect the scraps and
dispose of them properly. You can print on
either side of this surface (since the leaf is visible
through the fiberglass), but for this example we’ll
print directly onto the metal leaf (Figure 19.5).
6. Using one of the coating applicators from Chapter
3, thoroughly apply a coating of your precoat to
the metal. If necessary, you can apply a second
coating, but because it will partially dissolve the
first, you may not get as good a result. Make sure
you draw the coating across the surface in a single
direction, and that it’s evenly coated with no
ridges or globs. Let each coating dry completely
before adding another layer or printing on it.
7. Follow the steps in Chapter 17 for printing with a
template to print your image on your substrate.
Make sure you set your platen gap (Figure 19.6)!
8. Carefully lift out your print. You can reuse the
template for other prints, but just make sure
it’s dry and that the edges of the cutout haven’t
swelled with too much ink.
9. Depending on which precoat you used, the ink
may be tacky for several days. No matter how dry
it feels, allow the panel to sit for three to seven
days before applying a postcoat and before framing
it. Pigment inks have a solvent that needs to
gas out before you seal the surface.