Making a Solar Plate to add a line drawing to a monotype

Here is the next step in creating my solar plate. (Please read my older post to see the beginning step) I have worked a black ink drawing on a transparency. I am using Sharpie markers and scratching into the ink with an Exacto blade to add some grey tones.

To expose the solar plate, the image must be on a transparent surface. I have found that it is much better to have the image at this stage be greyscale--black and white and grey tones-- as this gives more details in the final print (The final print can be in color--you just ink the plate with colored ink.) I have tried different strategies including printing from an inkjet printer onto inkjet transparency, hand drawing with drawing inks, hand drawing with the sharpies, and painting on the transparency with black etching ink.

 I will work on this drawing a little bit more today. Since it is a nice sunny day, I will also expose the plate today. I'll post that step later--perhaps tonight.

Jan