CREATE 08 - Interrogating the Surface

New Ways to use Print Technology

These specialist training courses aim to provide participants with a platform to demonstrate how existing technology is already used in sectors relating to print on paper and the textile industry, and how this technology might be applicable for new areas. They will also demonstrate emerging technologies, or models, and ideas that possibly do not have, as yet, a practical application, but would facilitate a dialogue between different sectors

On Paper... :

Where : University of the West of England, Bristol, England

When  : Tuesday 14 – Friday 17 October 2008

Number of places : 30

This specialist training course, hosted by the Centre for Fine Print Research, University of the West of England, Bristol, will be delivered through a combination of lectures delivered by industry experts and studio based workshops.

Practical workshop: Microscopes: Interrogating the Surface

Mary McCann

Independent consultant in Microscopy

Microscopic examination of prints can tell us about the shape and size of image elements, the inks used in printing the image, the characteristics of the paper or substrate, and the interaction of the inks with the substrate. All of these observations enhance our understanding of the appearance of an image.

A variety of printed materials, both digital and traditional, will be available for observation by participants. We will have stereo microscopes of moderate magnification to examine sets of prints. Participants with different backgrounds will work as pairs at the microscopes to develop their understanding of the materials. There will be a microscope camera available for recording some images.

A number of micrographs at higher magnification will be shown to complement our own observations. Cross-sections of some of the prints will be available to correlate with the surface views and correlate with image appearance.