In printmaking, introductory level courses are offered in relief, intaglio, screen printing, and lithography. Drawing and design principles are given strong emphasis in introductory courses as a part of the problem-solving process. Increasing emphasis is placed on development of personal concepts. At the advanced level, emphasis is placed on experimentation, exploration, and conceptual development with the expectation that students gain a significant understanding of their chosen medium and its relationship to individually developed concepts. Students in printmaking are also expected to develop a sense of professionalism about their work, as well as use of the studio, tools, and equipment. The printmaking curriculum is comprised of separate but contiguous studios with more than 4,500 square feet for lithography, intaglio, screen printing, and relief printmaking. The facility is well stocked with rollers, color inks, flat file cabinets for paper storage, and lockers. Equipped with Charles Brand and Takach-Garfield presses, all printmaking studios establish a professional working environment. In lithography, there are more than 130 stones, a crown hydraulic lift, a stone-graining sink, and three presses, as well as chemicals for stone and plate processing. The intaglio studio includes equipment for etching copper and zinc, a Charles Brand hot plate, isolated vented acid and solvent rooms, and a special area for color printing. The screen-printing studio has screen storage racks and five silkscreen tables, including three vacuum-printing tables. Support for digital and photographic processes are available within the print studio. Additional resources for support of digital processes are maintained in the college Computer Graphics Center. There are three separate smaller studios for graduate students with direct access to the presses and common workspace. All studios are ventilated and meet Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards for industrial health and safety.
