Layered Printmaking Process
Schminke Studio, Seattle, Washington, 1998

"Fragments: Early Morning"
Digigraphy/Mixed Media, 22Ó x 30Ó
© Karin Schminke 1998

The work "Fragments: Early Morning" is from the Fragments Series, which records the artist's impressions of tiny Retreat Island in the Canadian Gulf Islands northwest of Seattle. Three original photos and two versions of a scanned drawing were collaged in Photoshop to create the image for the first layer of the print.

After printing the image onto digigraphic transfer film, the separate images were cut apart to prepare for transferring. Arches 88 paper was soaked, drained and set on top of the film print. Using a towel for an cushion, Schminke applied even light pressure with a marble rolling pin and then separated the film from the transferred image. After drying a coat of acrylic medium was applied.

In selected areas, a sheet of thin rice paper was collaged to further enhance the depth of the print. The rice paper was flattened using a small block print roller. The collage was dried, pressed flat and treated with a precoat. In the Photoshop file, layers were selected for the overprint. To allow the overprint to completely cover the collage's edges, a larger carrier sheet was used to hold the collage. After printing the third layer, the final image is removed from the carrier sheet.

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