About

It’s easy enough to send out to have polymer plates made, but wouldn’t you like the control (and economy) of making your own? Learn the process in this one-day workshop. Carl Youngmann and Ellie Mathews, letterpress printers, will demonstrate do-it-yourself, U-V exposure, water-wash methods for producing raised images using BARN’s materials and updated equipment.

We’ll start by discussing high-contrast images—whether from photographs, digital files, or scanned drawings. We’ll then select an example and make an inkjet negative. We'll use the negative to expose the polymer to UV light, and we’ll process it in ordinary tap water. Then we’ll print proof copies. Specific products, timing, and details will be outlined.

You are invited to bring one or more high-contrast (black and white—no grays) images for your own use. Instructors will also provide a selection of sample images.

There is no prerequisite for this workshop. Everyone is welcome.

Details:

• Please bring a lunch. We have a kitchen on the lower floor next to the Print & Book Arts studio with a refrigerator and microwave.
• Please click here for BARN's current COVID-19 health & safety protocols.
  
• BARN is committed to accessibility. Tuition Assistance is available - click here to fill out the simple application before registering for a class. For those who might need physical assistance, please learn about BARN's Companion Program here. 

Instructors Bio:
Ellie Mathews began using photopolymer plates forty years ago to make Braille signage. More recently, Carl Youngmann has figured out the intricacies of printing ink-jet negatives, exposure times, and washout temperatures to make his own plates at home, sometimes by using nothing more complicated than the sun as his light source. Together, they will guide you through the basics and share their enthusiasm for DIY methods.