This past Friday, the students of Valencia Community College’s Graphics Technology Program had an opportunity to participate in a screenprinting workshop by the fine folks at Lure Design, Inc. Being one of said students, I’ve been looking forward to this event for sometime, and was particularly excited because some of my work was chosen to be printed at the workshop. The Graphics Program recently held a poster contest in which the students were challenged with designing a poster to promote the Annual Juried Student Show coming up in April. Two winning posters were to be picked to be printed at the workshop, and I was honored by having one of my submissions being chosen. Additionally, 2 of my other submissions were chosen to be printed as postcards as well, along with 8 others. You can see all of the student submissions on the VCC Graphics’ Flickr!
Screenprinting is a form of printing that’s been around for a long time. Similar in ways to darkroom photography, it involves exposing an image to a screen coated in chemical emulsion. Then, using a squeegee you push the ink through the unexposed parts of the screen to print the image. It’s a fairly long process and you have to do it all manually, one at a time. You also have a screen for EACH color that you want to print – each screen contains only the artwork that would be in that color. You have to print each color individually – so you do all your prints with the first color, then put the next screen on and line it up (register it) with what you’ve already printed, then do the process all over again. Sounds complicated huh? But it’s super cool…
There was a really good turnout for the workshop, and VCC instructor Amanda Kern was there with camera in tow, of course, to document the event. You can see all of the photos she took that day here on Flickr. Below are a few highlights that I’d thought I’d share with you.
![1a-3390240193_c41ee671671 Lure made us a little welcome sign - how sweet :)](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/1a-3390240193_c41ee671671.jpg)
Lure made us a little welcome sign - how sweet :)
![1b-3391055096_362eb4903d Hanging out up front with Aaron Fischer, Brent Bautista, Gabriel Shockey, and Joel Okun.](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/1b-3391055096_362eb4903d.jpg)
Hanging out up front with Aaron Fischer, Brent Bautista, Gabriel Shockey, and Joel Okun.
![2a-3390233693_e6576b41a4 These are the films of the image that will be burned into the screens.](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/2a-3390233693_e6576b41a4.jpg)
These are the films of the image that will be burned into the screens. The dark areas are what will be printed.
![2b-3390277629_d324d13444 Sarah of Lure shows us their darkroom and explains the process of burning images into the screen.](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/2b-3390277629_d324d13444.jpg)
Sarah of Lure shows us their darkroom and explains the process of burning images into the screen.
![2d-3391172640_d311369d62 This is one of the screens on top of the film which is on top of a plate of glass over some lights. Lure can burn their screens in about 4 minutes - down to a science!](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/2d-3391172640_d311369d62.jpg)
This is one of the screens on top of the film which is on top of a plate of glass over some lights. Lure can burn their screens in about 4 minutes - down to a science!
![2c-3390458253_f3b3edfb93 Sarah shows off one of the burned screens. This one in particular is for the postcards.](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/2c-3390458253_f3b3edfb93.jpg)
Sarah shows off one of the burned screens for the postcards. The white-ish areas are where the ink will be squeezed through.
![3a-3390230397_a44992e9e4 Jeff and Sarah mix the ink that we'll be using. All the inks are custom mixed to the desired color.](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/3a-3390230397_a44992e9e4.jpg)
Jeff and Sarah mix the ink that we'll be using. All the inks are custom mixed to the desired color.
![3b-3390280281_c0ec4f22c1 Jeff preps the table and lines up the paper to be printed on.](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/3b-3390280281_c0ec4f22c1.jpg)
Jeff preps the table and lines up the paper to be printed on.
![3c-3391097822_f8b8a426f1 Jeff pours on the first color.](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/3c-3391097822_f8b8a426f1.jpg)
Jeff pours on the first color.
![3d-3390306545_578ee1d5e7 Using a squeege, Jeff floods the entire screen with the ink, making sure that the entire impression area is covered.](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/3d-3390306545_578ee1d5e7.jpg)
Using a squeege, Jeff floods the entire screen with the ink, making sure that the entire impression area is covered.
![3e-3390311557_425fa4c9cc With a good amount of pressure, Jeff works the squeegee down the screen, pushing the ink through.](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/3e-3390311557_425fa4c9cc.jpg)
With a good amount of pressure, Jeff works the squeegee down the screen, pushing the ink through.
![3f-3390314351_9121b5d47b Lifting the screen to check the impression and see how it turned out. Lookin good!](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/3f-3390314351_9121b5d47b.jpg)
Lifting the screen to check the impression and see how it turned out. Lookin good!
![3g-3390329209_62ed6c61c1 Each of the students got a chance to make a print. Here's Jenny Plucinsky, one of the postcard winners.](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/3g-3390329209_62ed6c61c1.jpg)
Each of the students got a chance to make a print. Here's Jenny Plucinsky, one of the postcard winners.
![3h-3391193836_16a2f6817d Aaron Fischer, the President of our Graphic Design Group, steps up to give it a go.](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/3h-3391193836_16a2f6817d.jpg)
Aaron Fischer, the President of our Graphic Design Group, steps up to give it a go.
![3i-3390374673_be3200bdd8_o2 And now it's my turn...](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/3i-3390374673_be3200bdd8_o2.jpg)
And now it's my turn...
![3j-3391191248_531c7817bd_o1 A close-up of the squeege dripping in ink.](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/3j-3391191248_531c7817bd_o1.jpg)
A close-up of the squeege dripping in ink.
![3k-3390427097_b7934ff7e5 Some dried prints of the first color. My poster design is the one on the right.](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/3k-3390427097_b7934ff7e5.jpg)
Some dried prints of the first color. My poster design is the one on the right.
![3l-3390405927_9d92a42e0fandres Andres Mathews got red on him.](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/3l-3390405927_9d92a42e0fandres.jpg)
Andres Mathews got red on him.
![3m-3391246530_67ba709b2e_o The other poster winner, Leah Ortega, prints the second color.](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/3m-3391246530_67ba709b2e_o.jpg)
The other poster winner, Leah Ortega, prints the second color.
![3n-3391251402_82ece7da3b_o I also get a chance to print the 2nd color.](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/3n-3391251402_82ece7da3b_o.jpg)
I also get a chance to print the 2nd color.
![3o-3390424673_0323d1969f_o So here's the finished 2 color poster drying on the rack.](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/3o-3390424673_0323d1969f_o.jpg)
So here's the finished 2 color poster drying on the rack.
![4b-3390469923_220e61cd9c Now it was time to print the postcards. Sarah from Lure tries out the first color. She can do 100 prints in 15 minutes!](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/4b-3390469923_220e61cd9c.jpg)
Now it was time to print the postcards. Sarah from Lure tries out the first color. She can do 100 prints in 15 minutes!
![4c-3391289738_43a19da109 They didn't like the green so much, so they added some yellow to it.](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/4c-3391289738_43a19da109.jpg)
They didn't like the green so much, so they added some yellow to it.
![4d-3391310042_41c8ba6f3a See the difference?](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/4d-3391310042_41c8ba6f3a.jpg)
See the difference?
![4a-3390507593_3d9529348a_o After finishing all the prints with the first color, Sarah shows us how to register (line up) the screen that will be used with the second color.](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/4a-3390507593_3d9529348a_o.jpg)
After finishing all the prints with the first color, Sarah shows us how to register (line up) the screen that will be used with the second color.
![4f-3391338804_2dc4315e5d Tania Sierra gives printing the second color a try.](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/4f-3391338804_2dc4315e5d.jpg)
Tania Sierra gives printing the second color a try.
![4g-3391372372_54e0d4bbb8 Joel Okun gets in on the action.](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/4g-3391372372_54e0d4bbb8.jpg)
Joel Okun gets in on the action.
![4h-3391354244_fac78a9d78 Gabriel Shockey gives his approval.](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/4h-3391354244_fac78a9d78.jpg)
Gabriel Shockey gives his approval.
![4i-3391362098_c896c59110_o Tania insisted on the 4 of us having our picture taken together.](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/4i-3391362098_c896c59110_o.jpg)
Tania insisted on the 4 of us having our picture taken together.
![4j-3391343830_f6e3db40b5_o These are the 10 finished postcards with both colors, just needing to be cut.](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/4j-3391343830_f6e3db40b5_o.jpg)
These are the 10 finished postcards with both colors, just needing to be cut.
![5a-3390574373_c84f07fdcf_o The students sign some prints for instructors Kristy Pennino, Amanda Kern, and Jason Ellison.](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/5a-3390574373_c84f07fdcf_o.jpg)
The students sign some prints for instructors Kristy Pennino, Amanda Kern, and Jason Ellison.
![5b-3391392124_63cf7d8041_o Here are some of the poster winners. From the left: Leah Ortega, Brian Nutt, Jenny Plucinsky, me, and Gabriel Shockey.](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/5b-3391392124_63cf7d8041_o.jpg)
Here are some of the poster winners. From the left: Leah Ortega, Brian Nutt, Jenny Plucinsky, me, and Gabriel Shockey.
![5c-3391394534_26b3441e3b_o Me and fellow poster winner, Leah Ortega, showing off our new prints!](https://www.treefrogcx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/5c-3391394534_26b3441e3b_o.jpg)
Me and fellow poster winner, Leah Ortega, showing off our new prints!
So there you have it! As you can probably see, screenprinting takes a lot of manual labor – it’s hard work! But the results are well worth it in the end!
Awesome Christine! Glad to see you all enjoyed the event. Those are some super photos you posted too. ;op
Thanks Amanda – yeah, there was this crazy awesome photographer there ;)
Thanks for sharing! It was really awesome to see how the screenprinting was done. And, what a fantastic graphic design group! Good luck with the show April 17th. I hope to be there.
Great Blog!!! I love screen printed posters. There is such excitment when the layers of ink are printed to finally reveal the full image.
There is a natioanl artist, “Stainboy” that lives and prints poster art in Orlando. You should check out his work. His focus is on concert poster art. Great stuff!