Bad Electroforming: Powerful Way to Create Tree Growths

Summary for bad electroforming Discussion

Bad electroforming can be desirable for organic, tree-like copper textures. Ornella Iannuzzi, a jewellery student at the Royal College of Art in London, asked why some electroformed pieces developed a strange bubbly or granulated surface that resembled native copper and whether that effect could be intentionally produced. The reply said these growths are commonly called “trees” by electroplaters, and that plating at a very high current density without organic addition agents will probably maximize them. The answer also noted that many people find such growths beautiful. Marianne Forrest added that she is also experimenting with electroforming and likes “bad” electroforming, joking that her work is “bad from the inside out,” and the site invited her to send a photo for posting. The thread therefore treats the effect as a known plating phenomenon rather than a defect, and suggests process conditions that encourage it.