Photopolymer Printmaking

Learn to use this light sensitive material for intaglio and relief prints.

Key details

Location

Falmouth Campus

Course duration

2 days

Course overview

Expand your creative practice and learn to use photosensitive polymer for printmaking on this 2-day course suitable for all abilities.

Based in our exceptional printmaking centre, we’ll teach you to expose, develop and print photopolymer plates using your own hand-drawn images or photographs.

After time to explore and develop your ideas, you’ll print a final edition of your artwork onto paper and will leave with all the work you’ve created on the course.

Tuition fees per individual: £250

Location: Printmaking Centre, Falmouth Campus

Duration: 2 day

How to apply

See course dates below that are available to book.

Upcoming Short Courses

If no upcoming Short Courses are displayed above, get in touch with us for more information.

Apart from our Short Courses for 14-17 Year Olds, all of our Short Courses are for adults 18+.

Course details

This 2-day course will start with an introduction to our fantastic printmaking space, then we’ll immerse ourselves in a series of taught workshops and skills development sessions exploring photopolymer printmaking.

Photo polymer is a light sensitive material that, once exposed to UV, can be developed in tap water therefore needing no harmful chemicals for processing. It is used widely by fine artists, graphic designers and photographers to make intaglio and relief prints on paper.

You'll learn how to successfully expose and develop your hand-made or digital artwork onto photopolymer plate (maximum size A4 ) and print from them using etching inks.

Heavy roller etching presses will be used for printing and you'll have the opportunity to explore the potential for multi-colour, rollovers and multi-plate printing.

You’ll have time to complete a small edition of prints on quality etching paper. You’ll leave with all the work you’ve created, and with the understanding and practical experience of preparing your artwork and processing, inking, and printing plates.

The course will conclude with a peer review of each participant’s work. All materials are included in the course fee using professional-standard printmaking supplies, and tea/coffee each day. 

This is an outline of what to expect for this course. Over the course of 2 days, you’ll work in our exceptional printmaking facilities supported by our technical team and we will cover the following:

Day 1

After an introduction to the printmaking space and a look at examples of both polymer plates and prints, Becky will show you how to prepare hand-made and digital artwork on translucent film ready for exposure to the plate. Test strips will be made in the morning for printing after lunch.

In the afternoon we will expose and develop the final plates so they can dry overnight. There will be time for Becky to demonstrate and you to explore colour mixing, preparing paper and preparing a complementary drypoint plate.

Day 2

In the morning the polymer plates will be post-exposed and ready to print. Becky will demonstrate various ways to ink and print from the plate. You’ll then spend the day exploring the medium, and you’ll make a varied edition of prints throughout the day.

Course team

Becky Haughton

Senior Technician

Becky Haughton works as a senior technician in printmaking; instructing and supporting students and ...

Becky Haughton

How you'll learn

You’ll learn in a small group through a combination of taught workshops for skills development and supported time to experiment and develop your ideas.

Who is this course for

This course is for all creative adults who’d like to explore photopolymer printmaking. Whether you are a practicing artist or creative maker looking to broaden your practice, have some previous printmaking experience that you’d like to develop in our facilities, or are a complete beginner – this course is suitable for all levels. 

You’ll be engaging in hands-on processes and techniques throughout the course in our exceptional printmaking facilities.

Arrival: 9.30am (welcome and refreshments) 

Morning workshop: 10am – 1pm 

Afternoon workshop: 2pm – 5pm 

Source material - any drawings/prints/photos you wish to work from. Please note - information on how to provide your digital artwork or photography will be shared after enrolment on the course.
Overalls, an apron or old clothing you don't mind getting messy! 
Shoes which have full foot coverage - i.e. no open-toed sandals, flip flips, etc.  
Please remember to bring a packed lunch with you.

All equipment and materials required are provided, however you may wish to bring your own drawing materials if preferred. 

All materials and specialist tools and equipment required are included in the course fee, however you may wish to bring your own drawing materials and paper if preferred. 

Tea/coffee is included each day.

This course is taught in our exceptional Printmaking facilities on our Falmouth Campus.  

Our Falmouth Campus can be reached via a range of public transport options. You can find out more by visiting our Falmouth Campus page.  

For campus maps and information on visiting us, please visit our How to find us page. 

This course is open to all adults with no prerequisite knowledge, it’s suitable for all abilities.

Accommodation is not included in this course cost. If you would like to book accommodation, please see our accommodation for short course students page for a range of options.  

Please note that printmaking is quite a physical process. All our printmaking courses require use of either heavy machines (rolling presses for example), or arm strength – and you’ll be standing for long periods of time. You need to have fairly good mobility to handle some of the equipment.

Our Falmouth campus is not fully accessible, with some activities in early Victorian three storey buildings.

Please contact us if you have questions about mobility and access.  

How to apply

To apply for this course, make your selection from the available dates below, this will take you to an event page where you will be able to book yourself onto the course via the Book now link.

Tuition fees per individual: £250