Make your own Gelli Plate

Love gelli printing? Why not take it a step further and make your own DIY gelli plate? In this video, I’ll show you how to create a homemade gelli plate with just a few simple ingredients. Whether you’re new to gelli printing or just love experimenting (like I do!), this is a fun way to customize your own unique plate that works!


🔥 What you’ll learn in this video

  • How to make a homemade gelli plate step by step
  • Tips for getting the best results
  • How to experiment with different shapes and sizes

Want to explore more gelli plate techniques?

Check out my Skillshare classes where I dive into unique printmaking methods using markers, pastels, and more! 🎉 https://skl.sh/3PlfyxH


👉 Share your creations with me on Instagram: @annabvl_official. I’d love to see what you make!

Materials

  • Mixing bowl
  • 1 pack of gelatine sheets (21 grams. That's the equivalent of 3 packs of powder gelatine, which is great to use as well)
  • 60 ml (that's 2 fl oz or 1/4 cup) Glycerine
  • 100 ml (that's a bit more than 3 fl oz or a bit less than 1/2 cup) Alcohol 70%
  • 125 ml (that's a bit more than 4 fl oz or 1/2 cup) boiling water
  • A tub with a flat surface. Can be square rectangle or round or each shape you prefer. A baking tray or cup will work fine as well
  • A toothpick or fork to get rid of the bubbles

Instructions

  • When you use gelatine sheets like me, soak them in cold water for about 5-10 minutes. If you use powder gelatine you can skip this step
  • Put the gelatine in a bowl
  • Add the water, glycerine, and alcohol. This isn't an exact science so a bit more or less is fine. Just keep the measurements as a guide.
  • Stir the mixture until the gelatine is completely dissolved. If you don't do this, the plate will get lumps. If you can't get them out, just put the mixture in the microwave for a few seconds to half a minute and stir again.
  • Put the mixture in a tub with the shape you want your gelatine plate to have.
  • Leave the mixture for a few hours or even overnight. It depends on the thickness or the size of the plate. Don't make it too thick otherwise, it will influence the printing. About 1/2 inch (or about 1 cm) is more than enough but don't do thinner than 1/4 inch otherwise, the gelliplate will break. Of course thicker is possible but you will lose control over the plate
  • With a pallet knife or anything flat enough, you can loosen up the sides when the plate is set
  • Peel the plate from the tub
  • Start printing! The first few prints will probably not look the way you want but after a few tries I've noticed it needs less paint to make nice prints than a regular Gelliplate.
  • Just store the plate in the tub (with a lid) that you made the plate in or between 2 sheets of printer paper.
  • This plate will last you a long time. If your plate gets damaged or you want a different size or you have too many lumps and bumps to work. Just melt the plate in the microwave for about 30 seconds to a minute, pour it again, and wait a few hours again to use it. It doesn't matter if it's discolored. That happens to every gelliplate.