Digitalization of every kind has affected the artist’s craft in ways that exactly and categorically are not anticipated, as for instance how it is today influencing printing.
One rainy afternoon, when I was holed up in my little studio surrounded by piles of prints and tools thickly coated with ink, I have to admit distinct feelings of frustration and nostalgia washed over me. I have always valued the hands-on aspect of my career as a conventional printmaker. The ways ink flows out of a plate, the brayer’s scrape, the soft sound of the mouthpiece being blown—it’s always an artistic thing.
As I have stated earlier, technology has advanced over the years, and so printmakers such as myself have thought of ways to expand our capabilities all because of the advancements in technology. Digital tools are no longer just reserved for graphic designers and coding professionals, but rather now include the tools used for traditional printmaking.
In this article, we will discuss how the various digital tools allow for traditional printmaking to be done in a completely different and modernized way.
How Digital Tools Are Changing Printmaking
New Software and tools, such as 3D Modeling Software and Hardware, have begun altering the technical approaches to 3D Design, thus broadening the scope in which 3D Tools may be utilized.
I still have clear memories as to how I was introduced to digital design software. In this given case, Adobe Illustrator – I found myself filled with skepticism since I questioned how a program could come close to the joy one feels during carving a woodblock. But it comes as no surprise as to how I was was left astonished as I tried visualizing and expanding my imagination with this tool. As an artist, programs assist me with optimizing the entire narrative: in my case, the work style saves me time.
Consider the idea of being able to quickly outline a design on a tablet, and then making minor adjustments to color tones, shapes and layouts instead of going over the entire process of having a carving done. That is precisely what new age tools offer to their users. They empower artists to incorporate digital upgrades into their artworks while still relying on traditional techniques for their creation.
As for instance, not so long ago, I managed to employ a laser cutter to produce complex stencils for my attempts at screen printing. I was genuinely surprised! I was able to obtain fine details and accuracy that would have taken me days to do by sticky fingers. What’s more, when I needed to remove my screens, I still had the opportunity to get dirty with the salvaged printing process.
Digital Integration In Real Life
It is such a treat to find various artists using digital tools in their printmaking and they all have a spin to it. One of the artists that comes to mind is Warhol as he has been known to use technology to its fullest to stretch the boundaries of art.
Warhol’s adoption of mass production is not known by many, and for some, his adoption of silkscreen printing was highly inventive at that point in history. What is forgotten though, is how he integrated arising developments to better his artwork. Among those were photographs that had been edited and placed on screens which mixed the realms of the digital and the analog world and all of that transpired well before the words Art emerged.
Currently, we are beginning to experience the revival of Warhol’s doctrine as new-age artists employ various digital instruments to recreate what was once printmaking. A perfect example here is Kara Walker. She has challenged society through her artwork made with a mix of photography alongside classical lithography and woodblock printing.
Seeing the work of Walker and Warhol made me want to modify my own prints in a creative fashion, and as a result I have been able to achieve a level of creativity I never thought was practicable. Integrating my research and ideas into the prints proved to be rather fortuitous and I feel like I have a whole new world of creativity in front of me.
All of these stories amply illustrate the qualitative shift that has taken place in the life of a printmaker thanks to the advent of the new technologies. At this time, there is an imaginative renaissance, which fits in with the time; respects the heritage, and denies it simultaneously.
The Role of Digital Tools in Traditional Printmaking
Improving the Artistic Workflow
When I first explored what digital tools were able to accomplish, I was fascinated with how easily they cut through the noise and helped the artist throw their focus towards the one thing that mattered – being creative.
Let’s take a gander at digital sketching. Instead of pen and paper, hours spent on sketches were replaced by a tablet featuring a stylus which allowed me to make modifications to the design all with a couple of taps. It feels akin to having an endless supply of pages in a sketchbook.
The prints required for an exhibition were a concept that I distinctly recall. Firstly, I had to make prints for an exhibition. Using a color palette in tandem with the digital tool allowed me to do multiple designs in the hypothetical fraction of the time. Recoloring, reshaping and resizing only needed a button. All of these processes saved me time and opened up new ideas which I never fathomed I could explore through traditional techniques.
All of this efficiency was possible only due to the removal of manual carving of the block; an endeavor not only time consuming but wasteful as well. The use of the devices helped me create and develop the design which in turn sped up the creative process.
Broadening artistic horizons
There is no denying that Digital tools have transformed the art world, paving the way for novel experimentation with color, texture, and form.
I’ve now been able to manipulate colors and textures in a program that I thought to be impossible. I was able to add multiple color layers easily which would have otherwise took a long time to finish off by hand. It literally feels like magic!
Imagine how complex patterns can be made even if they weren’t feasible through old methods. For example, El Anatsui is a textile artist who has used digital designs in conjunction with the fabric and has taken the art of traditional printmaking to the third dimension.
Recently, I participated in a workshop where a printmaker was over 60 years old. She demonstrated her work by putting together both traditional and modern elements and I have to say, she wowed the crowd. She used screen printing in combination with laser cut stencils of patterns which were incredibly complex and added layers to her prints. The mechanics demonstrated in the workshop complemented existing all methods of making fabulous prints without eliminating any.
Challenges Faced by Traditional Printmakers
As much as I have enjoyed the digital tools, one cannot avoid the conflict between legitimacy and creativity when it comes to printmaking.
It’s rather common for artists to ask themselves: Is the integrity of traditional hand-crafted prints being diminished because of digital printmaking? There is quite a rich sense of handcrafting prints, and some people are concerned that using technology in any form undermines that.
Recently while speaking with writers I was able to hear both sides of the argument. There are kind of two extremes about stance people have, an artist had a noteworthy observation that putting almost too much dependence towards the use of digital software can cause everyone to draw in exactly the same manner. At her first print making class, she recalls, “Getting your hands dirty while putting some ink in them is quite addictive, so even remotely dictating this experience is beyond impossible.”
However, an alternate opinion was put forward by another artist where he said he was never able to explore the depths of his creativity, until the introduction of digital tools. He displayed utter disbelief and stated, “Why should I restrain myself? When using digital tools my authenticity is further enhanced instead of being taken away from.”
Coming to Terms with the Skill Challenge
Transitioning towards using digital tools can sometimes be frustrating, especially for those who have just started using them.
I’m talking about the time I used Adobe Photoshop for the first time. Man was that a photographic developer suite hard to use. But who am I kidding, it took me a lot of practice and watching boring as tutorials! There were many occasions that I nearly gave up! But once I got a hang to the UI and macros, it all started to make sense. I came to realize that using these artist tools was a process that every artist had to undergo.
So, I have this colleague who does really well in printmaking but she suffered the same issues I did. She’s always been critical about her decision to use digital tools because she thought she will never be able to learn how to use them. But, she forced herself to attend a few workshops and practice for an hour every day, and now she’s a master at digital sketching software. Watching her transform her anxiety into confidence by combining her traditional bones with her modern skills was astonishing.
Every single one of these instances makes me remember that while turning the digital integration into reality isn’t easy, it’s certainly worth the effort. Each of these hurdles, once crossed, was a stepping stone not only in the quest for growing as an artist, but on a social level, as a hub of other creative people.
FAQs
Which digital tools would you classify as the most ancient ones used by print makers?
Print making has different tools that have eclipsed the favor of creative artists throughout history in the digital era.
Firstly, it is important to note that Adobe Illustrator is a giant in any industry. Thanks to the vector graphics, printmakers can produce sharp images that are infinitely large or small and still look good. When I first installed the Illustrator software I was really impressed with the first prints I designed because I could make really elaborate graphics. It was an entirely new dimension of my possibilities to stack and modify the prints I was doing.
A popular option is Procreate. This app has become the best fit for people who love to sketch digitally. It is very easy to use, and has a variety of brushes making it a great app for creating anything from first drawings to perfect designs. I’ve seen some artists professionally illustrate their IPads by first crafting a digital image and further converting it into a print. It’s similar carrying a studio in your hands!
Let’s talk about 3D printing technologies. Surprising as it may sound, it is beginning to gain its popularity in the printmaking industry. They can be made by 3d printed parts or 3d printed moulds incorporated with traditional parts. Once I visited an exhibition where an artist had prepared works of combining traditional printings with 3D printing. That was a fascinating mixture of the old and the new!
Can digital tools do away with the traditional techniques of print making?
This is a question that arouses a lot of emotions in the world of the printmakers.
I am one of those persons who thinks that digital media does have its benefits in the way that it enhances traditional methods albeit with a lot of limitations and is seen as an addition rather than replacement. There is an extensive history and feeling regard to the traditional methods of print making that is difficult to achieve virtually.
With a genuine look of realism, a printmaker once remarked, “There’s something about assisting with the rolling of the ink on a block, the texture of the paper, and the image that files off the print, It’s a substitute that a person cannot orchestrate off a screen.” To explain further, she said, “It’s a process that a person cannot replace with a laptop.” While Roz recognizes the legitimacy of her concerns, she underscores that many designs can be transformed thanks to fillers and digital techniques. Those who are printmakers may think they still integrate a sense of respect machine aided design however it is true that there is a lack of bridging the two. This is how it is possible to innovate, while at the same time retaining the core of the craft. It’s balance that fosters creativity.
In what way can the traditional ways of printmaking use the outburst of technology?
The traditionalists will embrace outburst of technology with wide amazement as mix media be effortless with out burst of technology as sceneries will be fabricated
There is also the possibility of creating branding that is unique to each customer Promotion is aside which will include having brochures on hand for prospective customers. It’s enthralling for starters ,combined with stuffing cutters it has the potential to completely overhaul mass production of pamphlet printing.
Also, creative options are widened that wouldn’t otherwise be possible through the use of regular means. Artists can be more adventurous with color, texture and forms in their designs. A taxi painter that I know expanded her craft into creating complex surfaces, then started printing them through more traditional methods. Absolutely out of this world.
Finally, digital tools also help the artist embrace evolution. They help the artists get out of their known ways while guiding them to try doing things in different ways. After learning to learn how to use the digital tools many artists began to feel free enough to be able to make changes to their works. The feel of opportunities truly is there!
Conclusion
The developments in the digital tools and their influence printmaking have been significant, however, this relationship is very different from being just an evolutional shift in the traditional aspect of the discipline of art – it is largely transformative.
Tension and Fusion is in the limitless and ongoing presence of artists who seek a delicate equilibrium between tradition and apparatus. Such engagement, opens Narratives which enrich other forms of art.
The most inspiring thing is that the use of digital tools does not mean the displacement of traditional tools. It allows printmakers to venture into new domains and enables different ways of practicing. It is fascinating to see many artists combine their art with the opportunities offered by digital equipment and I look forward to the world of printmaking in the future.
