Direct To Plate Intaglio & Photogravure Workshop

Direct to Plate Photopolymer gravure has the potential to allow a new user to make photogravures at the same standard as those practicing the traditional copper based methods. The process as we teach, is not difficult to master. If you have no experience in an etching studio you will gain a huge amount from this workshop. On the other hand, if you've been practicing copper plate photogravure a visit to our workshop can change your life!

PURCHASE WORKSHOP HERE Location and Hours

Day 1: Necessary Knowledge

A little knowledge goes a long way. A lot of knowledge goes further. The right knowledge is essential to a good start as well as advanced image development. This day is devoted to making sure you step on the correct path.

    1. Introductions of workshop attendees and instructors and viewing attendees portfolios (optional)

    2. Installation of Piezography Professional Toolset Special Gravure Class Edition, Print Tool, Piezography ICC profiles, Piezography Targets, and Documentation onto each workshop participant's laptop.

    3. Connection to the Cone Editions Print Server via network, and connection to pre-calibrated hardware calibration displays to each workshop participant's laptop.

    4. Cone Editions Press studio tour and introductions to support staff. A visit to InkjetMall offices and introduction to the superautomatica coffee maker (Ethiopian Harar medium roast). 

    5. Tour of the Cone Editions Press intaglio studio.

    6. Demonstration of paper preparation, and wet pack paper soaking method.

    7. Lunch break
    8. Demo of the Direct-to-Plate printing workflow, exposure, plate processing, drying, and hardening.
    9. Demonstration of ink mixing, hand wiping, paper calendaring, and pulling a print.
    10. Print drying and flattening.

Today we will demonstrate the entire process to you, after orienting you to the lay of the land. Cone Editions Press is a large studio encompassing several floors and levels. We'll be working in the imaging studio, the inkjet studio, the wet process lab, and the intaglio studio. We'll walk through the entire process today so that you get an initial impression of the procedures you'll be learning the following day.

Day 2: Necessary Practice

I know I can fly! Just a little reminder here and there - but it’s time for less talking and more rocking. Today it’s time to begin printing with the systems on your own.

  1. Supported printers & System Requirements.

  2. Refillable ink cartridge and Piezography Ultra HD™ Matte Black ink. How to include it in your regular color workflow, and how it will benefit your regular color workflow.

  3. Printer drivers and Settings setup.

  4. Direct to plate workflow setup

  5. Setting up Lightroom and or Photoshop.

  6. Preparing Images for printing.

  7. Print to Screen Display and Calibration.

  8. Preliminary imaging instruction and techniques for photogravure.

  9. Saving Images to Print.

  10. Lunch break

  11. Participants will print their saved images directly to plate.

  12. Participants will expose, process, dry and harden their photogravure plates.

  13. Participants will trim and prepare the corners of their plates.

  14. Participants will prepare their own wet packs/

Today participants begin working in the process with supervision.

Day 3: Dig a Little Deeper

Now take what you’ve learned and go forth and make prints!  

  1. Reintroduction to inking and wiping and intaglio press procedures.

  2. Participants will begin printing their own plates.

  3. First run of prints will be put into the flattener.

  4. Lunch break.

  5. Introduction to the Piezography Professional Edition Toolset Gravure Class Edition.

  6. Direct to plate Calibration.

  7. A second round of plates are printed by participants using the calibration, exposed, processed, dried and hardened.

Today it comes together in the form of photogravure prints. And you will learn how to calibrate the process.

Day 4: Workflow & Wrap-up

From Layout to Finish: on this day we finalize a custom tailored workflow for your specific studio needs and art practice. Leave with a "prescription" of items you need to get set up in your home environment.

  1. Participants will print on their own in the intaglio studio.

  2. Second run of prints will be put into the print flattener using a heated air option in order to dry them prior to the end of the workshop.

  3. Back into the classroom for questions and examples and demos to tie loose ends.


LOCATION AND HOURS: The studio is located at 17 Powder Spring Road, Topsham, Vermont 05076. It is registered with Google Maps and you can trust Google directions to our studio. The studio is open to students, and instruction is provided from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Your instructor sets time for demonstrations, lunch, critiques and clean up. On Wednesday we try to have a paella party in the Summer when weather permits. In the Fall we try to do something similar. But, we do keep the studio open later on Wednesdays. We also encourage sharing your work on Wednesday early evening. So plan for staying a bit later on Wednesday to share, eat, or get a bit more printing done!

TRAVEL: Our nearest airport (75 minutes) is Burlington International Airport (BTV) in Burlington, VT. Other airports are Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) (130 minutes) and Boston-Logan (180 minutes). There are car rentals as well as private taxis and shuttles between the airport in Burlington, VT and East Topsham. 

LODGING: The amount of lodging near us is very limited. You must make reservations early if you want to be within walking distance of our studio. There is a small B&B with friendly owners and excellent breakfast and 5 minute walk: http://www.vermontbackintime.info/

FOOD: We provide a tasty and healthy lunch each day according to the questionnaire you are asked to fill out prior to your arrival. Coffee, espresso, and tea are all very important to us and is always available fresh. We have a refrigerator in case you need to bring things you would rather not be without.

For dinner, Vermont is known for its interesting and varied cuisine. Some of our favorites are close and others are not so close. 

Computers and Displays: Cone Editions Press does not provide computer workstations. You must arrive with your own laptop computer. We do provide reference calibrator displays. These displays use DVI or HDMI inputs. Please contact us prior to the workshop so that we can advise you of any adapter you may need to connect your laptop to our displays. The use of our calibrated displays are not mandatory - but they will allow you to see what you can print - and you will want one when you return home! These are not your average displays!

Materials: All materials used in the workshop are included within the workshop fees. We offer the following papers: JonCone Studio Type 2 and Type 5, Canson Photographique, Hahnemuhle Photo Rag, Hahnemuhle Museum Etching. Epson Exhibition Fiber. All Piezography ink sets are available during the workshop.

Printers: During the workshop attendees have access to five Epson 3880 printers as well as 7880, 9800, 4900 and 9900 large format printers are present but not available for workshop use. Still we may use these printers from time to time to demonstrate preventative maintenance and installation demos or to answer printer specific questions.

Fees: $1500. A non-refundable reservation payment of $450 is required when you sign up for a workshop on the InkjetMall website. The balance of the workshop must be paid for in full 30 days in advance of the workshop or you lose your reservation payment.

Cancellation Policy: We have both a very generous and a very strict cancellation policy because the workshops are small and your cancelling adversely affects our program. All workshops must be fully paid 30 days in advance. We collect a deposit payment of $450 in advance. Should you decide to cancel your participation in advance of paying your balance and we can replace you with another attendee - we will refund your deposit minus a $100 cancellation fee. If you must cancel within 30 days after paying your full fee & we can replace you with another attendee, we will cheerfully refund 100% your monies minus a $100 cancellation fee. If we can not replace you - you will forfeit 100% of the fees that you have paid. Please be sure before you sign up. If you must cancel - do not wait until the last day. The sooner you alert us - the better chance someone on the waiting list can replace you.

Contact: Cathy Cone is the Workshop Coordinator. Please call (802) 439-5751 #101 or email [email protected]


PURCHASE WORKSHOP HERE