Printmaking Series (7 of 21) - Computers in printmaking
Posted: July 19, 2004
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Computers in printmaking
Printmaking Series - Part 7 of 21
By Nik Semenoff
Digital art can cause much discussion amongst dedicated printmakers who are absorbed in any
of the four major print media. I have my own opinions, but it matters more about the image
than the process. I am concerned with archival quality of today's inks - and somehow the
look of inkjet prints leaves a lot to be desired. Maybe in the future this will be solved
to everyone's satisfaction, but right now I prefer to see the print done on a printing
press. I have no problem in having the image manipulated on a computer and printed out for
exposure to plates. I am troubled with the excessive use of CMYK using Photoshop output for
positive plates. Having spent much of my life connected with commercial printing, I feel
that spot colors give a better product, especially when we are dealing with fine art prints.
The halftone dot is disturbing as there are no delicate tints possible. It is the quality
of the image and the printing that makes the product something to behold. I realize that
CMYK is the easy approach to getting multiple colors on the print with the least effort.
There is also the fact that pigments used in the four color process are not a permanent as
others.
Nik Semenoff
So do I use a computer in my editions? Yes. I have found that the scanner and either Photoshop or Corel software will produce the line images that form the basis of my prints. The positive is exposed to litho plates for printing the key image, but all other colors are hand produced in a variety of techniques. I use positive plates when it is the best method, but also transfer from Mylar or newsprint. The image demands the process.
Nik Semenoff
I cannot tell the future of the computer in printmaking or replacing painting as some artists have promoted. The camera caused a stir amongst artist and collectors, but it took years before creative people found the secret to the photo image. The bad photographers are unknown today, but the geniuses are acknowledged by all. The same phenomenon happens with the computer.
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Copyright © 2004 Nik Semenoff
Nik Semenoff
Artist-in-residence
University of Saskatchewan
Visit Nik Semenoff's website at
duke.usask.ca/~semenoff/ for more information.