Materials 

The studio sells a range of materials, such as metals, inks and paper, and we have some supplies available for hire, such as screens for printing on paper and fabric. See our shop list – click here.

Please ensure to print out your screen printing positives before your visit.

Studio orientation & first time users

Your first session will start with a studio orientation. This will include an introduction to the studio’s equipment and health & safety rules and guidelines. Even if you have attended a course at the studio before, you will still need to book and complete an orientation. If you are bringing someone to assist you, they will also need to book and complete an orientation and purchase their own Community Access session.

When you select your first Community Access session from the booking calendar you will be asked if this is your first time visiting Community Access. Please select ‘yes’ and an orientation will be added to your cart.

Orientations take place at the beginning of each session. If you have booked an orientation, please make every effort to arrive promptly at the beginning of the session you have booked. The orientation will start soon after the start of the session and our technicians do not have the capacity to run additional orientations for latecomers. If you miss the orientation, you will not be able to print and unfortunately we will not be able to refund your session fee. Orientations take about 45 minutes and you will then be free to print for the rest of the session.

Please note that an orientation does not include any teaching of printmaking skills. At most Community Access sessions we have a tutor available to provide advice and support to printmakers with some experience, but if you require in-depth advice and support in refreshing or developing your skills, please book an extended one-to-one tuition session with one of our experienced tutors. Please note these are scheduled on an ad-hoc basis and depend on the availability of our tutors. For more information please email our Studio Coordinator via
studio@eastlondonprintmakers.co.uk

For the safety of yourself, other studio users and their work, and ELP’s equipment, you may be asked to leave the session if in our technician’s opinion, you do not have sufficient experience to use the studio safely. We are unfortunately unable to refund your booking fee in these circumstances. Our Studio Coordinator will be happy to advise whether you should attend one of our courses or book a one-to-one tuition session studio@eastlondonprintmakers.co.uk

You do not need to be an Associate to use the studio, but it does offer a £1 discount on your Community Access fee, plus a number of other benefits. Please visit our Join Us page for more information. Unfortunately at present under-18s may not use the facilities.

Facilities

Screenprinting

• Large exposure unit for photo-silkscreens (130 × 180cm)
• Six vacuum tables (max print size 110 x 80cm)
• Various sized squeegees and coating troughs
• Various sized screens (for hire – max size 125 × 85cm)
• Back-lit wash-out unit for screens
• Drying racks

Fabric Printing

• PVC topped fabric table 3.6m × 1m print width (123cm table top) with registration bar & 7 repeat stops.  Three 49T screens 130 x 105cm with registration fittings available to hire.
• Largest usable area 88 x 100cm
• Gum Arabic is supplied
• Users must provide their own backing cloth

Etching

• Rochat Etching Press – bed size 81 x 137cm
• French American Tool Press – bed size 102 x 187cm
• Henderson Press – bed size 76 x 153cm
• Tofko Press – bed size 100 x 180cm
• Ferric chloride for etching copper
• Edinburgh Ferric for etching copper
• Copper Sulphate for etching Zinc
• Rosin aquatint box
• Hotplate
• Exposure unit for photogravure/photo-etching (60 × 70cm)
• Guillotine for cutting metal plate (max width 77cm)
• Large and small rollers
• Spatulas and ink knives

Relief

• Rochat Albion Press – platen size 40 x 55cm Maximum Paper Size 56cm wide
• Columbian Press – platen size 40 x 55cm Maximum Paper Size 56cm wide
• Book Press – 25 x 30cm
• Large and small rollers
• Spatulas and ink knives

General

• Electric Guillotine – max cutting width 65cm
• Lightbox (100 × 150cm)
• Cutting mats and rulers
• Goggles, masks, gloves and ear protectors