Zea Mays Printmaking

Our goal was to research a new method of producing a photographic intaglio plate using screen printing techniques and materials. We are combining photographic imagery, silk aquatint techniques, and silkscreen emulsion to create a method that we call Photographic Silk Aquatint. We wanted to create these plates using the simplest possible materials and to achieve plates that yield prints with tonal ranges and accuracy to the original image.

While we worked on refining the steps of this process to create prints that represent the original image as closely as possible, we discovered there are also many stylistic and experimental twists that can be brought to this method of printmaking.

We tested many different variables to perfect the technique and its outcome. Some of our variables included types of screen printing mesh, bitmap settings, methods for applying emulsion, exposure times, wash-out techniques, and refinements to the edge of the plates.

Each of our experiments are listed below, and you can look through them to see our entire process including the setbacks and successes, or you can look at our final guide with the most-updated set of instructions for this process.

Researchers: Mady Lacaprucia and McKenzie Stuetzel