image banner

Digital Printmaking (23/24)

Course Overview

This course is for those experienced L2L Printmaking students who have already completed L2L Printmaking courses at Bath College and are wishing to develop their experience with etching and photo screen printing in a digital format to a to a higher level.


The course will provide a more in depth and technical understanding of how to develop technical artwork for quality results in Photo Solar Plate and Photo screen printing.


Students will learn how to scan in and edit imagery (photographs, drawings, paintings, prints etc) in the digital suite to make suitable artwork. Then convert to a suitable half tone dot to make artwork appropriate for a range of photographic printmaking processes including:

 Photo screen printing
 Photo Solar Plate Intaglio


The first part of the course will be the scanning and editing of artwork in the digital suite to make suitable artwork. Students will then be able to take the prepared artwork to the printmaking workshop and use this to make photo solar plate intaglio and/or photo screen prints.
Photo Solar Plate is a technique that employs the use of ultra-violet light to fix a scanned image (photographic or hand drawn) onto a solar plate. This and photo screen printing involves using a 'positive' artwork on clear film which is contacted against a photo sensitive emulsion. After developing, the intaglio photo solar plate can be printed.

For those students who are keen to work at a higher technical level and produce more advanced, detailed and precise work photographically, this could be an ideal way to progress at Bath College within the Love2Learn Printmaking offerings.


The sessions will be split across 2 tutors, Arran Hodgson who will advise on the technical design and artwork preparation and Sally Gaden who will guide and facilitate the practical printmaking sessions.


What topics are covered?

Digital artwork preparation Solar plate intaglio Photo screen printing

Success Story

Sally Gaden has been the Printmaking Subject Leader at Bath College for 27 years and has tutored students in their progressive Art and Design development through the levels across the range of courses and has been Level 2 Art and Design Course Leader. Trained in Illustration and Graphic Design, Sally has taught at a range of FE Institutions and is Visiting Lecturer at Gloucester and Falmouth Universities. Sally was Artist in Residence at The Museum of Rural Life, Waterperry House and Gardens, Oxford. She was awarded the Eaton Fund to facilitate her specialism in 3-dimensional mould making, casting and fabrication to complete her MA in Mulitdisciplinary Printmaking at UWE in June 2020 which she achieved with Distinction and was awarded the Clifford Moss 3D prize. Recent Exhibitions have included: 2022 Showcase 2022, UWE Bristol Alumni Show Arnolfini, Bristol 2022 Engaged: MA Multidisciplinary Printmaking RUH, Bath 2021 Imprint: Critical Thinking and Making. MA Multidisciplinary Printmaking 44AD, Bath 2021 From the Heart: Juliet Duckworth and Sally Gaden 44AD, Bath 2020 Open Print 44AD, Bath 2020 Sally Gaden - Southmead Hospital, Bristol 2019 You Know You Want To Sally Gaden - Design Space, UoG, Cheltenham 2019 Where the Heart is... Sally Gaden and Juliet Duckworth - Wraxall House, Somerset 2019 Mini print: MA Multidisciplinary Printmaking - Arnolfini, Bristol

Interested in applying?

Enrolments for this course are currently closed, this may be due to the courses being full, or we may be confirming times and dates. You can register your interest in this leisure course by clicking the button below, and we can confirm any future start dates

Course Details

Course Type: Love2Learn
Campus: City Centre (Bath)

Frequently asked questions

This course is for those experienced L2L Printmaking students who have already completed L2L Printmaking courses at Bath College and are wishing to develop their experience with etching and photo screen printing in a digital format to a to a higher level. The course will provide a more in depth and technical understanding of how to develop technical artwork for quality results in Photo Solar Plate and Photo screen printing. Students will learn how to scan in and edit imagery (photographs, drawings, paintings, prints etc) in the digital suite to make suitable artwork. Then convert to a suitable half tone dot to make artwork appropriate for a range of photographic printmaking processes including: Photo screen printing Photo Solar Plate Intaglio The first part of the course will be the scanning and editing of artwork in the digital suite to make suitable artwork. Students will then be able to take the prepared artwork to the printmaking workshop and use this to make photo solar plate intaglio and/or photo screen prints. Photo Solar Plate is a technique that employs the use of ultra-violet light to fix a scanned image (photographic or hand drawn) onto a solar plate. This and photo screen printing involves using a 'positive' artwork on clear film which is contacted against a photo sensitive emulsion. After developing, the intaglio photo solar plate can be printed. For those students who are keen to work at a higher technical level and produce more advanced, detailed and precise work photographically, this could be an ideal way to progress at Bath College within the Love2Learn Printmaking offerings. The sessions will be split across 2 tutors, Arran Hodgson who will advise on the technical design and artwork preparation and Sally Gaden who will guide and facilitate the practical printmaking sessions.
Experienced L2L Printmaking students who have already completed L2L Printmaking courses at Bath College and are wishing to develop their experience with etching and photo screen printing in a digital format to a to a higher level.
How will I learn? The first part of the course will be the scanning and editing of artwork in the digital suite to make suitable artwork. Students will then be able to take the prepared artwork to the printmaking workshop and use this to make photo solar plate intaglio and/or photo screen prints. Group and one-to-one Instruction, guidance, advice and support will be on hand throughout.
Are there any additional costs? Most tools and equipment provided. However, students should budget for nominal materials costs which depending on the processes may include specialist artwork films and ink, papers, and Solar plates etc.
Which department is this course in? Department of Creative Arts and Enterprise Please contact Arran Hodgson for more details at arran.hodgson@bathcollege.ac.uk regarding this course.
What do I need to bring? Students need to bring suitable images to scan or photographic images in a digital format to convert/manipulate into appropriate artwork.