Printmaking Facilities

Printmaking is located on the third floor of the Star Store and has several studios defined by process in a series of adjacent rooms. The printmaking facilities have excellent ventilation systems throughout. There is general room ventilation near the presses and ink slabs, and vented slot hoods near the hot plates. Juniors, seniors and graduate printmaking majors are provided with their own individual room with separate studio spaces to keep their artwork and supplies.

Etching:

The main etching studio includes one French Tool etching press and one small Brand press, a vented hot plate, a compressed air aquatint box, multiple ink slabs and a plate shear. There is a separate room for acid etching and another room for solvent cleaning both with their own ventilation systems. The secondary etching studio includes a motorized Brand press, one letterpress, type drawers, a vented hot plate, multiple inking slabs, a plate shear and a guillotine cutter.

Lithography:

The lithography studio is adjacent to the main etching studio. There are two full-size presses available, numerous litho stones and a hydraulic lift. The room contains a large, ventilated graining sink. Equipment is available for photographic processes and aluminum plates.

Silkscreen:

The silkscreen studio is adjacent to the lithography studio. It has individual stations for printing in water-base ink. It has two vacuum tables, a large washout sink, storage for screens, and exposure units for photo silkscreen.

Digital and photomechanical printmaking:

This studio contains an analog darkroom, a stat camera, and three exposure units for plate making, alternative processes and photopolymer plates. Additionally, there is a digital lab with several printers dedicated to making digital transparencies for printmaking applications.