Photographic Printmaking

Catalog description

Photographic Printmaking is an introductory printmaking course centered on direct-to-plate photopolymer gravure, an intaglio process that uses light to translate photographic images into printed form. The course treats photography as source material rather than an end point, emphasizing how images are transformed through plate making, inking, pressure, and paper. Students will learn the full workflow of photopolymer gravure, including image preparation, plate exposure, inking, wiping, and printing, with a focus on safe, non toxic methods that retain the depth and archival qualities of traditional gravure. The class is structured around hands-on making and shared studio time. Students will spend most class sessions working directly in the print studio, learning through demonstration, repetition, and experimentation. In addition to printing plates, students will learn traditional Japanese wheat paste chine colle techniques, using thin papers to add layers, color, and texture to their prints. These methods introduce fluidity into the work, allowing images to shift, accumulate, and change through material decisions rather than relying on a single fixed image.