How to Store Your Gel Plates

11 Comments

1. 

   Doris Unrau  05/16/2026 09:36 AM Central

   Didn't know that whatever you leave on the plate would etch in. Thanks so much for the info.

   Diana Garrison AUTHOR  05/18/2026 03:54 PM Central

   You're welcome, Doris!
2. 

   Sharon Perpignani  11/04/2025 03:06 PM Central

   I learned early on about the paper drying out the plates because I don't print that often and when I'd finally find some time to sit down and work, the prints came out awful! I was having to recondition my plate each time I wanted to use it till it occurred to me to stop worrying about having clean paper and just reuse the already oiled pieces.
   
   I think I'm going to try something new now. I'm going to really oil the plate up like crazy and try some wet strength tissue instead of copy paper. In theory it would seem to absorb less and protect as well. I mean, the only protection any paper provides is pretty minimal anyway.
   
   What I don't understand is the grunge lovers who leave paint on the plate all the time. I love grunge, too, so I guess as long as all they ever do is grungy prints they wouldn't care about pits or bubbles...? I've considered keeping one side pristine and letting the other go crazy. 😂
   
   By the way, I love just about everything you post or do! ❤️

   Diana Garrison AUTHOR  11/05/2025 09:59 AM Central

   Thanks so much for your comments and compliment, Sharon! 💕
   
   I'm curious how the wet strength tissue will work for you. My first thought is that it will wrinkle, and that "texture" may show up on your plate after an extended period of time.
   
   Gel plates are fairly resilient. I suppose the grungy paint left on the plate may leave it dimpled, but that would only add to the grunginess. 😊
3. 

   Cindy Luck  11/04/2025 12:18 PM Central

   Great tips. Thank you! Love the idea of reusing the same paper to cover the plate … I often don’t do that .. I will now! 😎your Tuesday tips are so helpful. Thanks so much Diana.

   Diana Garrison AUTHOR  11/04/2025 12:49 PM Central

   I'm so glad you're enjoying the Tips, Cindy! Thanks for your comment. 💕
4. 

   marilynn Gladstone  11/04/2025 10:54 AM Central

   So clear and helpful. Thank you so much.

   Diana Garrison AUTHOR  11/04/2025 11:23 AM Central

   You're welcome, Marilynn! I'm glad you found this helpful. 😊
5. 

   Monica Ivarsson  11/04/2025 09:09 AM Central

   Thank you for the advices.
   Do you ever work with your plate on plexi? I like to turn my plate around now and then to see what it looks like underneath, but it’s difficult with the air bubbles.

   Diana Garrison AUTHOR  11/04/2025 09:17 AM Central

   You're welcome, Monica! I keep my 16x20 plate on plexi to make it easier to move around, but I don't usually turn it over. I usually have a piece of acetate under my other plates so I can tape it down on my table. I find that most of the air bubbles work themselves out as I'm working with my brayer, though. I'm afraid I can't offer a solution. Maybe someone else has one.
6. 

   Selena Dixon  11/04/2025 08:29 AM Central

   I add a few drops of mineral oil to the paper, if using a new paper cover.

   Diana Garrison AUTHOR  11/04/2025 09:12 AM Central

   That's genius, Selena! ⭐
7. 

   Linelle Lane  11/04/2025 07:47 AM Central

   Thanks so much for this helpful video. At one point I tried using copy paper, but I think it might have been too thick and absorbed too much oil from the plate. It had been on for a week or so and stuck to the plate. It came off with water, but I realized it wasn't a good solution. What I have been using since April for my 3 plates is brown parchment paper in the original clam shell. It doesn't really stick to the plate, but it seems to protect it. All my plates are in good condition. I like removing stuck on paint with tape.

   Diana Garrison AUTHOR  11/04/2025 08:22 AM Central

   Hi, Linelle! The brown parchment sounds like a good solution. I'm curious what brand of gel plate you have. It may need to be conditioned with a rub-down of mineral oil.
8. 

   Kate Crossley  11/04/2025 07:05 AM Central

   Thanks Diana, that pretty much sums up the research I’ve done too but a good tip about the masking tape and the thinner copy paper. I made the mistake of originally storing my gel plates with the plastic film on top and unfortunately it did create air bubbles that have now pitted the surface. Lesson learnt!

   Diana Garrison AUTHOR  11/04/2025 08:21 AM Central

   You're welcome, Kate! I find that smoothing paper over the "air- bubbled" surface" and leaving it a while can help lessen the bubbles. Did that not work for you?
9. 

   Trudy Apple  11/04/2025 06:31 AM Central

   Great information, thank you.
   I leave one side of the plastic on my plate so it is always protected, and if I damage the side I use, I have a pristine side to switch to.

   Diana Garrison AUTHOR  11/04/2025 08:19 AM Central

   Great idea, Trudy! ⭐
10. 

    V McGreevy  11/04/2025 06:14 AM Central

    This is such a helpful and efficient video - it seemed so logical to me that you would put back those protective layers of plastic but I can see exactly what you mean about the air bubbles. I had heard about using paper but thought it would dry out the plate - your technique of reusing the same paper is very reassuring and feels logical. Going to dig mine out and hope I haven't done any damage to date!

    Diana Garrison AUTHOR  11/04/2025 08:18 AM Central

    Thank you! I'm glad you found it helpful. A rub down with mineral oil can condition your plate when the paint doesn't seem to be lifting properly. 😊
11. 

    Margarete Brandenburg  11/04/2025 06:13 AM Central

    Good to know re regular storage. I've got the tins from Amazon and they work well for up to 9x12

    Diana Garrison AUTHOR  11/04/2025 08:16 AM Central

    I've heard of those tins. I'll have to look into them. Thank you, Margarete 💕