Duration

2 half-day sessions and a study visit.

When

October 4, 2025, October 11, 2025, Saturday from 1:50 PM to 4:40 PM

Location

Museum Plantin-Moretus or livestream via Zoom

Lecturer(s)

Vladimir Ivaneanu

C
ontemporary printing techniques such as offset (books and magazines), screen printing (textiles), and flexography & gravure (packaging) are all based on four fundamental printing methods. Each of these techniques has its own characteristics, which graphic designers and publishers take into account early in the creative process.

In this short course, you will gain an in-depth understanding of the four fundamental printing methods: planographic printing, screen printing, relief printing, and intaglio printing. You will explore how technological advancements have influenced both the process and the final result. By the end of the course, you will know when and how to apply each technique in your professional practice.

In the instructor’s workshop, you will have the opportunity to experiment with these printing techniques yourself. Through hands-on practice, you will develop a deeper understanding of their characteristics and gain a greater appreciation for the unique expressive power of each method.

Despite the dominance of industrial printing, artistic printing techniques remain highly relevant. Traditional relief printing thrives within the private press movement, while intaglio printing is widely used in the arts. Screen printing and risograph techniques have also become integral to contemporary book production.

Moreover, printing techniques serve as a source of artistic inspiration. Many modern book covers, magazines, and posters would have been unthinkable without 19th-century innovations such as Japanese woodblock printing and color lithography.

Practical Information

This short course is part of the one-year Typography & Book program, but it can also be taken separately.

It pairs particularly well with History of the Book, which is offered on the same Saturday.

Costs

Tuition fee: €210.
Discounts apply when combining multiple short courses within the same year.

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