Jello Journalism

Jello Journalism
Originally uploaded by nekosoft

Probably the most talked about feature of today's Edible Book Show, Earl Noe demonstrates his hectographs - a Jello-based printing system.

A hectograph is made by transferring an image prepared with aniline inks to a pan of gelatin. Copies of this original can then be made by simply pressing a sheet of paper against the gelatin.

Because of the fragile nature of the gelatin, only around 100 copies of the original can be made. Therefore the hectograph lends itself to small print runs - classroom tests, newsletters and science fiction fanzines. Fragility can also be an advantage: the master copies can be completely eliminated. In World War II, Allied officers imprisoned at Colditz Castle near Leipzig melted their gelatin desserts to make a hectograph press to produce escape maps.

As arcane as a hectograph may seem you've probably had one pressed against your skin. Temporary tattoos use ink suspended in gelatin - hectographic technology!