Printmaking Facilities and Equipment

• Digital Printing
• Intaglio (Etching) and Relief Printing
• Letterpress and Book Arts
• Lithography
• Screen printing
• Textile Printing and Dyeing
• General Information

The printmaking studio keeps basic materials for printmaking in stock. Please reference printmaking fees to view a listing of these materials and their related costs.

Clear acetate, newsprint, and printing papers (BFK Rives and Somerset) are sold at the printmaking studio. Please refer to suppliers to make arrangements for ordering additional supplies.

Digital Printing

The printmaking and photography studios offer a bookable digital studio where artists can scan, manipulate their own images, and print on archival paper. See digital studio for more information.

Intaglio (Etching) and Relief Printing

Metal-plate etching on copper, collograph printing, monoprinting, and woodblock printing are all possible in this printmaking facility. Ferric chloride is used for copper plate etching (16 gauge roofing copper sold in studio). Etching with other metals such as zinc and steel is also possible although plates are not available for purchase at the studio. The acid room is self-enclosed with an excellent ventilation system where etching baths are mixed and restricted.

Studio equipment for etching includes:

• Charles Brand etching press — bed size 36" x 60" (91 cm x 152 cm)
• Charles Brand embossing/etching press — 26" x 48" (65 cm x 120 cm)
• Shake box with rosin for aquatint (no professional rosin box)
• Fusion box for fusing rosin to copper plate
• Professional hot plate — 27" x 36" (61 cm x 91 cm)
• Two glass-top roll-up tables each 36" x 61" (91cm x 154 cm)
• Stainless steel paper soaking sink — 36" x 56" (91 cm x 142 cm)

For photo-etching, the printmaking studio uses an Epson archival printer to produce photo-positives on clear film. The output quality is good for use with ImagOn™ ULTRA film. The print facilitator operates the printer and artists incur the cost of the inkjet ink and clear film.

The studio can accommodate other photo processes that include screen-printing hardground onto copper plates and photopolymer (solar) platemaking. For a description of the photopolymer platemaker and process please read the letterpress and book arts section.

Letterpress and Book Arts

The printmaking studio has a Vandercook 4T Letterpress. The letterpress prints image and text onto paper using Jet 94FL plastic backed photopolymer plates. These relief plates are produced using an A4 Polimero photopolymer platemaker which is housed in the studio. The photopolymer platemaker is an all-in-one unit for exposure, developing, and drying of photopolymer plates. In addition to the printmaking studio facilities, a fully equipped papermaking studio provides additional resources for artists who wish to produce handmade papers for book arts. Together with the Paul D. Fleck Artist Book Collection, these facilities provide an opportunity for book arts research, creation, and immersion.

Facilities for letterpress and book arts include:

• Vandercook 4T letterpress (cylinder dimensions 14” x 18”)
• Photopolymer platemaker (A4 size – 9” x 13”)
• Standard Boxcar Grid Base (13” x 19” non-magnetic metal base)
• A nipping press (cast iron 10” x 15”)

Please reference printmaking fees to obtain more information about materials and their related costs.

Paul D. Fleck Library — Artist Book Collection

Home to over 3,700 works, this collection includes many rare and unique books and bookworks created by artists in Canada and abroad. In addition to works that embody traditional book formats, this collection also includes multiples, unbound/open works, photoworks, mail art, and artist’s ephemera. View the Library catalogue.

Lithography

The lithography studio is a private self-enclosed studio space with exhaust ventilation. The printmaking studio provides the essential equipment for traditional plate and stone lithography. A ventilation hood is stationed directly above the Griffin lithography press.

The printmaking studio provides the following equipment:

• Bavarian litho stones:
  • 16" x 20" (40 cm x 50 cm)
  • 21" x 26" (53 cm x 66 cm)
  • 22" x 30" (55 cm x 76 cm)
  • 25" x 30" (63 cm x 76 cm)
• Griffin lithography press 39" x 66" (99  cm x 167 cm)
• Graining sink 47" x 80" (119 cm x 203 cm)
• Levigator
• 2 leather rollers
• 1 Synthetic roller (color printing)
• Tympans
• Carborundum grits
• Scraper bars
• Drying rack

Screen printing

The printmaking studio supports water-based screen printing. The studio darkroom houses a Tri-Light NuArc Exposure System for photo-silkscreen. The printmaking studio provides the essential equipment for screen printing:

• Tri-Light NuArc exposure system (vacuum & UV light source)
• Silk-screens
• Squeegees
• Scoop-coaters
• Spray booth and pressure washer
• Vacuum table 48"x 63" (121 cm x 160 cm) (manual screen printing table)
• A.W.T. Seri-Glide Serigraphy Press One Man Squeegee Unit (35" x 45" print area)

Textile Printing and Dyeing

Facilities for textile printing and dyeing include the following:

• Textile printing table (4′ x 12′)
• McDonnell & Miller industrial fabric steamer
• Huskystar domestic sewing machine
• Dye room with sink and exhaust ventilation
• Screen printing equipment
• Dye facilities

General Information:

All program participants are responsible for paying the cost of supplies such as inks, papers, plates, acetate, and any material not listed under the printmaking fees. The printmaking studio stocks some supplies available for purchase. Please consult the print and paper facilitator with questions regarding your project requirements, studio equipment, printmaking fees, suppliers, and availability of materials.

For more information contact:
Wendy Tokaryk, Print and Paper Facilitator
Email: wendy_tokaryk@banffcentre.ca
Phone: 1.403.762.6402
Fax: 1.403.762.6665