Image Making on Letterpress #2: CMYK Photopolymer Printing
Course Code: 26SLP302I
This hybrid workshop takes place on Thursday, March 26th from 6PM to 9PM ET (Virtual, on Zoom) and Saturday and Sunday, April 11th - 12th, from 11AM to 5PM ET (In-Person, at CBA)
- Thursday, March 26th from 6PM to 9PM ET (Virtual / on Zoom)
- Saturday, April 11th, from 11AM to 5PM ET (In-Person at CBA)
- Sunday, April 12th, from 11AM to 5PM ET (In-Person at CBA)
Please Note: Registration for this workshop closes on March 12th, at 11:59pm Eastern Time.
About the Workshop:
Letterpress is one of the oldest forms of printmaking and it is a versatile asset to the book artist in the production of editions, text, images, and more. Learn the steps for making full color, photographic prints on a letterpress using the CMYK photopolymer plate technique. In the first session of the class on Zoom, Castaldo will teach students about color separation, how to work on prepping images in photoshop, and the proper settings for both ordering plates and for in-studio output. Then in the remaining classes in CBA’s studios, students will learn how to properly mix ink for CMYK printing as well as learn the proper registration techniques for printing photographic images on letterpress.
What are the prerequisites or required experience for this workshop? Letterpress and photoshop experience are helpful but not required.
Required Materials:
- Pencil and paper for taking notes
- A color photograph
- Access to a computer with photoshop or other photo editing software (students can download a free trial of photoshop from the adobe website)
- Please wear closed-toed shoes and clothes that can get stained or dirty (CBA will provide aprons, but the ink used on press can stain)
All other materials will be provided by Center for Book Arts at no additional cost.
About the Instructor
Elizabeth Castaldo is a New York based artist, printmaker, and bookbinder. Working with collage, drawing, and printmaking she creates multi-layered and visually abundant works on paper and artist’s books that explore nature, the divine feminine and interconnectivity. She was a 2024 art-in-ed workspace resident at Women’s Studio Workshop and has completed residencies at Proyecto ‘Ace in Buenos Aires Argentina, Arquetopia in Oaxaca Mexico, the Center for Book Arts, NYC and Printmaker’s Open Forum, Oxford PA. In 2023, her work was included in an illustrated edition of The Awakening by Kate Chopin published by Kasini House and Kolaj. Her work has been exhibited internationally including with Proyecto ‘Ace, Saint-Paul de Mausole at Saint-Rémy, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Empty Set Gallery, Zuckerman Museum of Art, Center for Book Arts, Saint Joseph’s College, and Landing Contemporary. She teaches printmaking and book arts at Parsons School of Design and the Center for Book Arts. Castaldo received her MFA from SCAD Atlanta where she was a Dean’s Fellow in Printmaking and her BFA from the School of Visual Arts. Her work is held in many private and institutional collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Public Library, SCAD, The University of Alberta, Carnegie Mellon University, Yale University and others.
All images courtesy of the instructor.