膠版雕刻 Hectograph Carving

膠版與橡皮章相較之下，膠版硬度很高，刻起來頗吃力，版子厚度較薄，若預刻物尺寸小，手會比較有點難掌握；不過也因為膠版硬度高，對於刻細如髮絲的線條或是錯綜複雜的圖樣，都能印出九成以上的完美效果。

Compare hectograph and rubber stamp: the hardness of hectograph is higher and it's thinner, so you have to use more strength to carve it. If your graphic is small, you might hard to hold it. Due to the higher hardness, you can carve the hairline or complicated graphic and it can print up to 90% accuracy.

這次竟然很有種的選了規模小且線條細又多到炸開的圖樣來試刻。一開始因為已經熟悉軟橡皮，突然遇到硬膠版，著實讓我訝異並花了不少力氣，所使用的工具也滿不給力的，所以光刻這樣的程度，便讓我覺得手很痠，且字刻起來還歪歪扭扭。

I chose the small graphic with many details, how dare I. I used to carve soft rubber stamp, therefore I used a lot of strength on this hectograph. All the tools I had are not useful, so it's kind of difficult and made my hand painful. Besides, the letters aren't straight at all.

刻膠版時使用角刀也要非常注意力道，一個太用力不是刀子插到雕刻墊裡，要不就是發生以下的悲劇。半個字母A都被我刻掉了，煩惱之餘不知該怎麼辦，只好把整片都刻光算了。

Be careful of the strength by using chamfer tool, it might stab into the cutting pad or happen something like this below. The half of letter A was carved, I had no idea to deal with this problem then I thought that it might be best carving it all. 

先把簡單區域刻完後，內心深處有種"阿就這樣吧"的感覺，光看到那些線條就想昏倒，且加上手指很痛，就有一股衝動想去文具店休息一下順便買個更有力的工具。

When I finished the easy parts then I thought just leave it like this? Because of my painful hand, I had an idea that take a rest and buy some powerful carving tools.

剛買回家的OLFA雕刻刀，立即驗證了「工欲善其事，必先利其器」的道理，真的好刻到不行。

I bought an OLFA art knife and it proved the Chinese idiom: To do a better job, you must broaden your knowledge and sharpen your skills. 

不過刻到越後面，就默默有開始亂刻的現象，線條有默默簡化了不少，印在紙上的效果是還有，但是直接看版子的畫面....我只能說：只能遠觀，而不能褻玩焉。

I simplified some lines afterwards. However, when I print it and it still looks amazing. But it's better not look at the hectograph directly... (hahaha)

刻完這款後，深深被膠版所能承受細節的特性給吸引，便想到之前失敗的QR code，如果改用膠版會不會掃描成功呢？

I was fascinated with hectograph. Then I was thinking if I use this to carve QR code, it could successful pass through by scanner. Could it?

▼前後我刻了三個橡皮章和一個膠版章

I carved 4 QR code stamps and  one of it is hectograph.

▼第一刻(左上)，第二刻(右上)，第三刻(右下)，第四刻(左下)

First one(upper left), second (upper right), third (bottom right), fourth (bottom left).

▼刻完膠版的QR code總覺得它長得好像神秘的晶片

It looks like a secret smart chip.

然而這章還是得要能真實掃瞄成功才有意義！所以帶著忐忑得心情掃瞄，結果是.......

 If it can't sussessful pass through the scanner then it doesn't make sense at all. And the answer is.......

成功了！！！！！！！ （飛上天）經過四次革命，成功了啦！這次無須放大鏡，只靠一個雕刻刀，就輕鬆完成了，我愛膠版。

I made it!!!!!!! After 4 times carving, I made it! This time I didn't use magnifier and only used one OLFA art knife. I LOVE hectograph!