What is the difference between a print and a reproduction?

An original print is made by the artist themselves, using a printmaking technique like etching or screen printing, and is typically part of a limited edition. Each print is considered an original work of art because the artist has been involved in the entire process. A reproduction, on the other hand, is a photographic copy of an existing artwork (like a poster of a painting) and is not considered an original print.

Do I need to be good at drawing to do printmaking?

Not necessarily. While drawing skills can help you plan your image, printmaking has its own visual language. You can create interesting prints using abstract shapes, textures, or found objects. Many printmakers use stencils, photographs, or direct carving without a preliminary drawing. The key is to experiment and find what works for you.

How do I clean my screen after screen printing?

For water-based inks, wash the screen immediately with warm water and a mild detergent, using a soft brush to remove ink from the mesh. For oil-based inks, you'll need a screen wash solvent (like white spirit or a dedicated screen cleaner). Always wear gloves and work in a well-ventilated area. Rinse thoroughly and dry the screen before storing it flat.

What paper is best for printmaking?

You need a paper that is absorbent and strong enough to handle the pressure of the press. Good options include Japanese washi (like Hosho or Kozo), Somerset, or Fabriano. For relief printing, a smooth but slightly textured paper works well. For intaglio, dampen the paper so it can be forced into the incised lines. Always use acid-free paper for archival quality.

Can I combine different printmaking techniques in one piece?

Absolutely! Combining techniques is a great way to create unique effects. For example, you could print a linocut background and then add screen-printed details on top. Or use drypoint for fine lines and aquatint for tonal areas. Just be mindful of registration and drying times between layers.

How do I number and sign my prints correctly?

Prints are typically numbered as a fraction: the first number is the print's position in the edition (e.g., 3/10 means the third print out of ten). The edition size is decided before printing. Sign your name in pencil below the image on the right, the title (if any) in the centre, and the edition number on the left. Use a soft pencil (like 2B) so it doesn't damage the paper.

UAL Level 3 Award in Printmaking

UNIVERSITY-OF-THE-ARTS-LONDON

vocational

This topic explores printmaking principles, including historical and contemporary contexts, and a range of methods and materials. Learners will experiment with techniques, produce prints, and apply health and safety procedures in the workshop.

Learning Outcomes

Assessment Guidance

Key Skills

Key Terms

Assessment Criteria

Topic Overview

The UAL Level 3 Award in Printmaking introduces you to the fundamental techniques and creative possibilities of printmaking as an artistic medium. This qualification covers a range of processes including relief printing (linocut, woodcut), intaglio (etching, drypoint), screen printing, and monotype. You will learn how to translate your ideas into printed images, exploring the unique qualities of each method such as line, texture, and layering. The course emphasises both technical skill and creative experimentation, encouraging you to develop a personal visual language through print.

Printmaking is a vital part of contemporary art practice, used by artists from Rembrandt to Banksy. This award not only builds practical abilities but also develops your understanding of composition, colour theory, and the importance of editioning and presentation. You will learn to work safely with tools, inks, and presses, and to critically evaluate your own and others' prints. By the end, you'll have a portfolio of original prints demonstrating your ability to control and manipulate the printmaking process to achieve specific aesthetic outcomes.

This qualification fits within the broader Media Studies curriculum by connecting visual communication with hands-on production. It complements digital media skills by grounding you in traditional image-making techniques, enhancing your understanding of how images are constructed and reproduced. Whether you aim to pursue further study in art and design or apply these skills in commercial contexts like illustration or textiles, this award provides a solid foundation in a historically rich and technically diverse discipline.

Key Concepts

Core ideas you must understand for this topic

→Relief printing: carving away negative space from a block (linoleum or wood) so that the raised surface holds ink and transfers to paper. Key techniques include using gouges to create lines and textures, and understanding how to register multiple colours.
→Intaglio: incising lines into a metal plate (usually copper or zinc) with a burin or acid (etching). Ink is forced into the grooves, and the surface is wiped clean before printing under high pressure. This produces fine, detailed lines and tonal variation through hatching and aquatint.
→Screen printing: using a mesh screen stretched over a frame, with a stencil blocking parts of the screen. Ink is pushed through the open areas with a squeegee onto the substrate. This method allows for bold, flat colours and is ideal for repeat patterns and photographic imagery.
→Editioning: producing a limited number of identical prints from the same plate or screen, each signed and numbered (e.g., 1/10). This concept is crucial for valuing prints and understanding the difference between original prints and reproductions.
→Registration: the precise alignment of multiple colours or layers in a print. Poor registration leads to misaligned images, so techniques like using registration pins, jigs, or tracing are essential for multi-colour work.

What You Need to Demonstrate

Key skills and knowledge for this topic

Demonstrates understanding of contextual perspectives in printmaking.
Experiments with a wide range of printmaking methods and materials.
Produces a range of prints that solve creative problems.
Applies workshop practice and health and safety procedures correctly.

Assessment Criteria

Key criteria assessors look for in your portfolio

Demonstrates understanding of contextual perspectives in printmaking.
Experiments with a wide range of printmaking methods and materials.
Produces a range of prints that solve creative problems.
Applies workshop practice and health and safety procedures correctly.

Assessment Guidance

Guidance for achieving higher grades

💡Keep a sketchbook of experiments and ideas.
💡Label all prints with edition number and signature.
💡Always follow workshop safety rules.
💡Show evidence of experimentation: Examiners love to see that you have tried different techniques and materials. Include test prints, colour trials, and notes on what worked or didn't. This demonstrates your understanding of the process and your ability to problem-solve.
💡Pay attention to presentation: Your final prints should be clean, well-inked, and properly mounted or stored. Use acid-free paper for archival quality, and ensure your editioning numbers and signatures are consistent and neat. Presentation reflects your professionalism.
💡Link your work to artists: Referencing printmakers like Käthe Kollwitz (expressionist woodcuts), Andy Warhol (screen printing), or M.C. Escher (intricate relief prints) shows contextual understanding. Explain how their techniques or themes have influenced your own choices.

Common Mistakes

Common errors to avoid in your coursework

Not cleaning equipment properly after use.
Using too much ink, causing smudging.
Ignoring registration marks for multi-colour prints.
Misconception: Printmaking is just about copying an existing drawing. Correction: While you can transfer a drawing, printmaking is a distinct creative process where the medium itself influences the final image. The carving, inking, and printing stages each offer unique effects that cannot be replicated by drawing alone.
Misconception: You need expensive equipment to make good prints. Correction: Many printmaking techniques can be done with simple tools at home. For example, linocut requires only a piece of linoleum, a few gouges, a roller, and water-based ink. Even screen printing can be done with a DIY frame and a stencil.
Misconception: All prints are identical copies. Correction: Even within an edition, prints can vary due to ink consistency, pressure, and wiping. Artists often create 'varied editions' where each print is intentionally different. Also, monoprints and monotypes are unique, one-off prints.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions students ask about this topic

Before You Start

Prior knowledge that will help with this topic

•Basic drawing skills: Being able to sketch and compose an image helps you plan your print effectively. You don't need to be a master draughtsman, but understanding line, shape, and contrast is beneficial.
•Understanding of colour theory: Knowledge of primary, secondary, and complementary colours, as well as how colours interact when layered, is important for multi-colour prints.
•Health and safety awareness: Familiarity with safe handling of tools (cutting mats, sharp gouges) and materials (inks, solvents) is essential before starting practical work.

Key Terminology

Essential terms to know

Understand contextual perspectives and approaches to printmaking, Experiment with a wide range of printmaking methods and materials, Be able to produce a range of prints to achieve creative solutions to identified problems, Understand and apply printmaking workshop practice and health and safety procedures

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UAL Level 3 Award in Printmaking

Topic Overview

Key Concepts

What You Need to Demonstrate

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Guidance

Common Mistakes

Frequently Asked Questions

Before You Start

Key Terminology

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Common Mistakes in UAL Level 3 Award in Printmaking

Key Marking Points

UAL Level 3 Award in Printmaking

Topic Overview

Key Concepts

What You Need to Demonstrate

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Guidance

Common Mistakes

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a print and a reproduction?

Do I need to be good at drawing to do printmaking?

How do I clean my screen after screen printing?

What paper is best for printmaking?

Can I combine different printmaking techniques in one piece?

How do I number and sign my prints correctly?

Before You Start

Key Terminology

Ready to learn?

Related Topics in UNIVERSITY-OF-THE-ARTS-LONDON vocational Media Studies

UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production & Technology

UAL Level 2 Diploma In Creative Media Production & Technology

UAL Level 3 Diploma In Creative Media Production & Technology

UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production & Technology