Letterpress and Gravure Printing Workshop
High Pressure
In relief printing, the parts to be printed are raised. Using various tools such as gouges, engraving tools, or knives, the non-printing parts are cut away. Ink is rolled onto the raised parts, which then transfer the ink to paper or fabric. Examples of this include woodcut, linocut, and puzzle printing.
Gravure printing
In intaglio printing, the areas to be printed are recessed. After inking, these recesses transfer the image to the paper. The plates are made of zinc, copper, or plastic. Lines, hatching, or other recesses are carved out of the plate by hand using an engraving needle or similar tools. An etching process can also be used, in which the recesses or lines are etched out. This means that the areas to be printed can be created mechanically or by hand. Various techniques include drypoint, etching, aquatint, vernis mou, sugar lift, or photogravure of the printing plates.
Offset printing
Planographic printing includes all processes in which the areas to be printed are neither raised nor recessed. The process is based on the principle of mutual repulsion between oil-based ink and water. After the plate has been marked or painted with oil-based ink, it is lightly etched. Now, the unmarked areas are water-receptive, while the marked areas are water-repellent. These areas accept the ink and transfer it to the paper during printing. Intaglio printing processes include alugraphy (or algraphy), photogravure of alugraphy plates, and monotype.
In the workshop, you can also freely experiment with all these processes and combine the various techniques. Experiments with cyanography or blueprinting are also possible.
Hours of Operation
Tuesday–Wednesday
, 9:15 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Thursday
, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Friday
, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. → with tutor Tobias Anspach
From Monday through Wednesday, you’re free to work in the workshop. Courses on specific techniques are offered upon request. Groups of three to five people are ideal.