Making W is for Walk - Part 2

 

Here's the second and final part of my peek behind the curtain and the making of Emily Sutton's W is for Walk. 

Proofing the image

Once transferred to the screen, I set about printing each separate layer, one colour on top of the other, until the print is complete.

This is the first time we start to get an idea of what the finished print will look like, and it’s also when we begin to spot any elements that might need adjusting. If I see anything, I make a note and then give feedback on my thoughts to Emily. 

With W is for Walk, we decided to strengthen a few colours and add a little more information to the red, green, and navy layers. While Emily adjusted the relevant positives, I stripped the screens and prepped them for the new version to be exposed in their place.  

With the new versions on screen, I run through the whole proofing process again. It’s not unusual for us to make upwards of 10 proofs at this stage, all with minor changes in colour and composition before we settle on the one we like best.

 

Printing the edition

Using the proof as a guide, I print 85 copies of the image, one colour at a time. Print, dry, print, dry... It’s a time-consuming process but one that can’t be rushed. Due to studio conditions, I usually print two colours a day. That gives me time to check the image's registration and ensure everything is printing as it should. If I’ve done my job correctly, all 75 prints from the edition will be identical at the end of the process. 

Once the prints are complete, I trim them down to size, grab a cup of tea, and wait for Emily to visit the studio so they can be signed and added to the website, ready to be sold and delivered just in time for Christmas. The extra 10 prints I printed are shared between Emily and myself as either printer proofs (signed P/P) or artist proofs (signed A/P). These prints are usually given to family and friends.

If any other prints exist at this point above the edition and proofs, I tear them into small pieces and use them for writing notes on. I know this sounds like a bad idea but destroying any extra prints means that I can guarantee that only 85 prints will ever exist.