Workshop Fee (includes materials fee): $150
Scholarships available; click here to apply.

This is an in-person workshop. As of January 2023, masks are strongly encouraged but not required, unless otherwise indicated. 

Experiment with analog ways of creating polymer plates in lieu of digitally-generated images.

Traditionally, photopolymer plates are made using a film negative that is exposed to light, thus burning the image into the plate. In this class we'll experiment with different ways to block the light when exposing a plate that don't require Creative Suite and digital design skills.

Students will experiment with using paper cutouts, Ruby-lith, and blank exposed film as a mask, as well as mark-making on film scraps by scratching the emulsion with a needle or awl. They'll also carve directly into polymer plate material, much like linoleum or wood. The class will also discuss how to do color separations in preparation for multi-color printing. 

The aim of the workshop is to encourage students to think of polymer plate as a material and not just the end result of computer generated image and type. Students will finish class with new ideas and strategies for getting images onto a polymer plate for printing, as well as their finished plates to use in future projects.

>> Prerequisite: Students should be familiar with the idea of polymer plates and how they're made/used, but will not have to make plates themselves <<

Materials to Bring: 

• A simple image in mind that’s approximately 4”x6”

Optional, available for use at SFCB:

• Lino cutting tools
• X-acto knife or other cutting implements for paper cutting
• Any sharp tools that will make scratch marks (such as tools for scratchboard)

Date & Time: Saturday, April 1, 2023 :: 9:30am-5:30pm

Location: 375 Rhode Island St, San Francisco, CA 94103

NOTE: Please read over the SFCB Registration Policies before signing up for a class. Registration will close three days prior to the start date of the workshop to allow the instructor time to prep materials for class. 
 

About the Instructor | Li Jiang (she/her)

Li Jiang is a Berkeley-based letterpress printer, graphic designer, bookbinder and print maker. After receiving a Bachelors Degree in Graphic Design she found her way to letterpress printing and continues to gain as much arcane knowledge as possible about the craft from Bay Area printing masters. She regularly prints with a variety of presses such as platen presses, various proof presses, and 19th Century iron hand-presses. Li also leads iron hand-press demonstrations at various Bay Area institutions.

In addition to working with individual clients in the past 15 years, Li also prints for many of the Bay Area Bibliophilic and printing organizations such as the Book Club of California, the Colophon Club, the Roxburghe Club, American Printing Historic Association (Nor Cal Chapter), Moxon Chappel, and volunteers at the SF Center for the Book. Li is currently working on a book of 36 prints using analogue-generated images printed from polymer plates.