Ready to stop hiding your best photos behind screens and pixels? It is time to bring your digital work into the physical world and turn your images into finished, gallery-ready prints. In this hands-on workshop, we skip the dry theory and guide you step-by-step through the complete digital printmaking workflow.
You will learn file prep, soft proofing, and custom colour profiling, while testing premium stocks like textured cotton rag and heavy baryta. Bridge the gap between screen and paper, and walk away with finished work you are proud to display and share.
Workshop Rundown
Format: Single-Evening Intensive 4 Hours
Hour 1: First Press
Want to jump straight onto the equipment without sitting through a long lecture? We start the evening by opening your digital file, getting you comfortable operating the press, and running a raw baseline print right out of the gate. You will build instant confidence on the gear and get a physical print in your hands within your first sixty minutes.
Hour 2: True Colour
Ever wonder why what you see on your monitor rarely matches what comes off the printer? Put your Hour 1 print under daylight-balanced lighting right next to your screen to see where things shifted, then learn how soft proofing and paper profiles fix those gaps. You will test out different sample papers—from cotton rag to heavy baryta—so you can stop guessing on settings and take total control over your final output.
Hour 3: Surface & Texture
Ready to dial in your adjustments and print your best work yet? Working across our dedicated print stations, you will run test strips, fine-tune output sharpening, and lock in shadow detail on premium archival paper. Spend dedicated time in full production mode making finished prints with direct, hands-on guidance every step of the way.
Hour 4: The Final Touch
How do you turn a raw print into a gallery-ready piece? You will learn practical finishing skills like precision trimming, hand-deckling edges, and numbering limited runs. To wrap things up, you will trade work with your cohort in the UAC Print
Exchange and head home with a boxed portfolio containing signed prints from
everyone in the class.
By The End Of This Workshop, You Will:
- Understand the essential workflow from digital file to finished print.
- Learn how to prepare and optimize an image for professional printing.
- Use soft proofing and paper profiles to achieve more accurate colour.
- Explore how cotton rag, baryta, and other papers affect the look of your image.
- Gain hands-on experience using professional printing equipment.
- Leave with finished fine-art prints and a practical workflow you can use for future projects.
Workshop Details
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Laptop & Charger: Bring your personal laptop with your preferred editing software (Photoshop, Lightroom, Affinity, etc.) installed for live soft proofing.
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Image Files: Have 2 to 3 high-resolution files (RAW, TIFF, or high-res JPEG) pre-loaded on your machine or a USB drive.
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All Materials Provided: Fine art paper stocks (cotton rag, baryta, etc.), printing ink, finishing tools, and portfolio boxes are fully included.
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Intensive Format: Capped at 6 to 8 participants for a focused, 4-hour session to ensure plenty of individual printer time.
Workshop Details
Dates: To be announced
Format: 1 intensive session · 4 hours
Location: Urban Art Collective, 50 Bayswater Avenue, Ottawa
Instructor: Trevor Pearson
Level: Introductory
Maximum Capacity: 10 students
Minimum Enrolment: 6 students required
