Milwaukee Makerspace Wiki

Note: Only point form is presented here - the full training is required to use the space.

This will show the basic steps of how to make a relief print, but is not a full class on how to carve, print, or pull an edition. The intent is to learn safety and studio etiquette for the space There are a lot of technical terms. They aren't really important, but can help with communication about the process (especially if you're googling “how to's”. I'll use these so you've heard them, but it's okay to check what something means

• We're sandwiched between a few different areas including member's personal space, the machine shop, and pottery. (point these out).
• There is public usage space also next to us that is free to use
• We have to work across the hallway, please be mindful about people moving back and forth through here.
• In case of emergencies the closest fire extinguisher and first aid kit is kept by the electrical panel
• Speaking of which…. this is also one way to turn the lights on - we're Midbay South
• Most importantly, the slab roller is owned by pottery and shared with us. To ensure continued access we need to be mindful of their needs and leave it in a good condition after every use

• Flat file
  • left side is shared materials including raw materials and supplies (go through tools and supplies)
  • right side is limited area storage (discussed later)
  • This is a clean table - DO NOT ink on this table and please clean ink up thoroughly
• Drying rack
  • Show how to use - please raise/lower them gently!
  • Make sure your working isn't dripping (water, ink, etc)
  • We're going to only use the middle racks for now
  • Please try to pick your work up within a week of printing
    • The makerspace is very dusty - meaning your work will get dusty
    • Label the shelf with name and date (how we do this?)
    • If clutter and abandoned work becomes a problem we'll start a regular “purge” and remove old work from the shelves
• Inking table
  • How to use will follow shortly
  • This is okay for inking
  • Short term inking storage underneath on the shelf - but please clear items that don't need to be there
    • We plan to keep newsprint underneath and a box of folded scrap paper - to grab good paper with inky hands
  • When finished please wipe down with a sponge and soapy water
• Keep an eye out for ink - some can stain clothes (and hands) quite badly
• Slab roller
  • This is not ours - we are borrowing from pottery
  • There can be clay dust on the canvas and frame. This can interefere with prints so be careful
  • Do not get ink on canvas - we'll show how to not do this soon
  • Safety
    • Can be dangerous
      • Crushed fingers - be mindful of your fingers and those around the press
      • Hitting yourself with the wheel - this is easy to do and can *hurt*
  • Point out the parts:
    • the handle drives the roller
    • the roller and the press create the pressure needed
    • The pressure is adjusted
      • coursely with polycarbonate or masonite sheets
      • finer with blankets (mandatory for each print)
      • finest with paper/card shims
    • Canvas protects the paper/print and the roller from each other
    • Currently storing extra masonite and carbonate sheets scattered around - plan is to store underneath the press bed

• The slab roller is most commonly used for 2 approaches to printmaking
  • Relief: ink on raised sections and transferred to surface (generally carved out blocks of ink, but lines work too)
  • Intaglio: ink in recessed and transferred (pressed) to surface (generally lines, but areas of ink are possible)
  • We're going to show basics of relief - intaglio can be more complicated and time consuming

• Inking setup
  • The inking block!
  • Brayer (rolls out ink)
  • Safe wash ink (washes with soapy water)
  • Rolling slab for ink
• The press setup
  • Newsprint
  • Stiff canvas (attached to slab roller)
  • Carbonate sheets (may change in future)
  • “Blankets” and shims
• Cleanup materials
  • Bucket, sponges, soapy water
  • paper towels

• Cut and tear clean paper
• wipe down worksurfaces to remove dust or particles - keep an eye out for wet ink!
• Replace (add?) carbonate sheet to top of press bed. Lay down a spare sheet of paper, newsprint, or plastic
• Before inking block, adjust pressure
  • We want a sandwhich: masonite, carbonate, newsprint, printing block, printing paper, protection paper, blankets/shims, canvas. Going btm to top
  • Keep extra materials to adjust as we proof
• Set out materials to roll up the ink and an area with newsprint to roll up your block

• Rolling out the ink
  • Put a small amount of ink on the inking block
  • With the brayer roll this out - focus on both directions for a nice rectangle
  • The right amount of ink and rolling is generally a soft hiss
  • This can take a little while
• With a loaded brayer roll out on the block-
  • this doesn't need a lot of pressure
  • try not to overshoot a ton (gets the backing paper messy) but can't be entirely avoided
  • ink in multiple directions
  • First time printing a block may take a few attempts - lino and wood need to be “conditioned” or something
  • People often wipe the sides of the block to remove extra ink for a cleaner print
• Tranfer the block to the printing area
• Place paper ontop carefully
  • can't move once placed
  • Registration is a whole thing - we're just eyeballing
  • Can use finger tabs to protect paper from inky hands
• Place protecting paper/blankets on top
• Make sure you don't see any ink
• Roll - firm steady pressure.
• We're not sure right now if should have the top canvas or not - this might change)
• Look at print!
  • First few prints are called a “proof” this is where you're figuring out the right pressure/ink for your desired effect. You can also go back and change the block here
  • There is a lot of history and tradition surrounding an “edition”, but this isn't really important (but people use this word a lot - it's the prints you show to the public as a finished work)

• The biggest thing we want is no wet ink left on anything, but generally put away and pat down everything
• Curl inky papers up into a ball (ink on the inside) and throw out
• If blankets get ink on them please wash (? will the blankets handle this?)
• Remove polycarbonate sheets and blankets - put in drawer
• Remove excess ink and wrap paper - throw it out
• Wash inking plate and brayer (gently) with soapy water - can use pottery sinks as long as ink is washed entirely away
• Many people wash their printing block
• Put prints to dry on the rack - name and date

• We are still working on the plan for this since it's limited area
• Currently each drawer is shared by 2 people (left vs. right) - mark with masking tape with name
• If we run out of space