DIY MINI PRESS Etching press by BILL RITCHIE |
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| DESIGN DETAILS | |||||
| DESIGN NAME: DIY MINI PRESS PRIMARY FUNCTION: Etching press INSPIRATION: Inspired by a desire to share the joy of printmaking outside art of schools and professional publishers, we created an art and hobby tool that is in tune with the maker movement. This DIY Etching Press goes together to produce a beautiful hand printing press of unique design, the wood cladding reminiscent of old wooden printing furniture. UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION: It is the only Mini Etching Press kit in the world and fits together with parts and tools provided. It takes less than an hour to assemble with the tools, and is ready to print intaglio, relief, lithographic or stencil prints as well as unique mono types and mono prints. In the hands of a skilled printmaker it has proved capable of professional quality fine art prints. OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION: Printers make printing plates with etched line and texture, apply stiff inks to the plate and wipe off excess ink. The plate is put on the press bed, covered over with damp, pliant paper. Thick fabric gives cushioning as the press wheel moves the bed between the rollers, squeezing the paper into the ink filled incisions and prints the ink into the paper fibers. The operation usually requires industrial space and equipment but the mini press brings a printmaking experience to homes and schools. PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION: The project began in 2004 in Seattle/USA. Five larger models preceded the etching press kit and all of these had positive user feedback. The new plan offered do it yourself etching press kits for these beautiful and functional Halfwood etching presses and resulted in a perfect, versatile tool for home, school and recreational use. More than 150 online videos gained viewers of distance learning and reached the designer’s objective to educate by making the printmaking experience accessible. FITS BEST INTO CATEGORY: Toys, Games and Hobby Products Design |
PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY: We began by miniaturizing industrial etching presses in pictures of printing presses that date back centuries. Tests in workshops with artists and youngsters proved that the scaled down press functions. Regarded as a toy and craft tool by tradesmen yet it combines aesthetics to make a beautiful, portable art press of balanced design. Welded steel, precision rollers and bearings, geared chain drives clad in fine woods cut to fit, plus brass appointments, result in a beautiful, functional press. SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES: Length: 38 mm.; Overall press width: 240 mm.; Overall press height: 270 mm.; Bed length: 370 mm.; Bed width: 153 mm.; Bed thickness: 50 mm.; Roller lengths: 152 mm. Roller diameters: 138 mm.; Press weight: 5.44 Kg.; Bed width allows 130 X 180 mm. plate with small margins; Top roller raises to 25 mm. from the bed. TAGS: Halfwood Press, etching, printmaking, fine art, art education, DIY Etching, Mini Press RESEARCH ABSTRACT: Between 1960 and the 2000 professional fine art printmaking outgrew human scale. Miniaturization of the key tool, the printing press, was needed to remove obstacles stopping people from learning and practicing the art. A personal size press with access to online teaching followed a decade of making Halfwood presses commensurate with resources of people doing hand printing. The D I Y maker movement grew and a new design emerged to meet the opportunity for art, education and craft hobbies. CHALLENGE: The challenge was to achieve a balance in redesign and making kits for presses that could be owned and used by anyone. Financial limitations had to be met. The usual business matters confronted the designer and manufacturer. Design, academic and innovation matters came up in the course of developing the D I Y etching press. Successful tests, marketing and feedback combined to produce a versatile, beautiful tool for art, education and crafts, and media skills helped to meet the challenge. ADDED DATE: 2015-02-21 16:10:54 TEAM MEMBERS (6) : Designer: Bill Ritchie, Engineer: Thomas Kughler, Lead Test: Ethan Lind, Assistant: Margie Kughler, Manager: Lynda Ritchie and IMAGE CREDITS: Image #1: Photographer/creator Bill Ritchie, DIY Mini Press active side, 2015. Image #2: Photographer/creator Bill Ritchie, DIY Mini Press passive side, 2015. Image #3: Photographer/creator Bill Ritchie, DIY Mini Press parts, 2015. Image #4: Photographer/creator Bill Ritchie, DIY Mini Press being made, 2015. Image #5: Photographer/creator Bill Ritchie, DIY Mini Press being used, 2015. |
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| Visit the following page to learn more: http://tinyurl.com/m2f9abh | |||||
| CLIENT/STUDIO/BRAND DETAILS | |
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NAME: Emeralda Works PROFILE: Emeralda Works was founded to design and test fine arts education software, including support software, supplies, equipment and consulting services for subject matter experts' asset management. In establishing Emeralda Works, Bill Ritchie believed that higher education in the arts requires changes that embrace new technologies while conserving old technologies and the assets of art history. As a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in printmaking, he re-defined the art of printmaking by aligning printmaking with performance arts and entertainment whereas in the past printmaking was associated with painting. New skill sets, including support software, supplies, equipment and consulting services in intellectual property management thus became the company goal concomitantly with art education. The unique line of Halfwood Presses is part of the company goal to produce appropriate technologies on a scale that is right for the changing needs of the printmaking community worldwide. |
| AWARD DETAILS | |
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Diy Mini Press Etching Press by Bill Ritchie is Winner in Toys, Games and Hobby Products Design Category, 2014 - 2015.· Press Members: Login or Register to request an exclusive interview with BILL RITCHIE. · Click here to register inorder to view the profile and other works by BILL RITCHIE. |
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