Silkscreen
The studio has built an outstanding reputation for producing high quailty original silkscreen prints. Projects are taken through our proofing process to ensure an image is successfully interpreted as a silkscreen, whether it be a limited edition or a one-off original artwork.
We are creatively driven and utilise a variety of solvent based and UV ink systems, often bringing several inks together in a single project to achieve stunning results.
Our team's high level of expertise and knowledge of the process, particularly around pre-press and using silkscreen as a high-end imaging process opens up a wide range of technical possibilities for artists, often unreachable by other studios — this gives our original silkscreen prints a unique feel and quality.
Papers
We commonly use fine art, mould made, cotton papers as they provide superb ink holdout, surface stability and archival properties. However, we also incorporate various hand made and machine made papers.
Non-paper substrates
Our knowledge of solvent based ink systems allows us to print onto nearly any surface. These inks can be tailored to possess excellent physical and chemical resistance without UV or heat curing.
Non-paper substrates that we can print onto include; glass, various metals and plastics, nylon, vinyl, wood, primed and unprimed canvas, rubber, latex, leather and many more including textiles.
Artwork Preparation
Unlike most of our competitors Make-Ready has a truly formed and comprehensive understanding of what exactly constitutes a high resolution artwork and digital file preparation. We understand that silkscreen printing is first and foremost an imaging process before it is a printing method. This notion de-romances often mystified parts of the process and allows for stunning results. All artwork preparation and pre-press is done in-house to ensure a linearised workflow and a consistent printing environment.
We utilise wide format Epson inkjet printers and expertly utilised RIP software to produce film positives and colour separations. As well as our archival inkjet prints (both UV and aqueous).
We can also work from hand rendered positives that have been made onto a clear substrate such as True Grain or been cut from Masking Film.
Our digital suite also fields a large format Canon 2380 XTF UV flatbed press, capable of printing up to 3m x 2.5m, as well an Epson SC-P20000 and two Epson SC-P10000 aqueous inkjet printers.
Archival Packing
We pride ourselves on the care and attention given to the packaging of finished prints and artworks. Paper editions are first sealed in fully archival, acid free, PH neutral packing and then crated in high-density fluted cardboard.
Embellishments + Specials
We can hand embellish prints with a wide variety of gilding metal leaf including; silver, gold, imitation golds and coloured metals. The vibrancy, finish and quality of metal leaf is unmatched even by metallic inks. We can also add layers of colourful glitters, sparkles and diamond dust.
Special inks can also be incorperated into our prints, including: thermochromic, glow in the dark (phosphorescent), metallic, sparkle, fluorescent, UV sensitive inks and many more.
Finishing + Trimming
Great care is taken with our finishing process. Each print is inspected before it is trimmed and becomes part of a final edition. Paper can either be machine cut or receive a deckled edge which is done by hand.
Varnishing
A full layer of varnish is often printed over a completed print to increase it's vibrancy and protect its surface. If only certain details of an image require this treatment a spot varnish can be applied.
We can also provide various finishes with both our gloss and matte varnishes, from just a light sealing of an artwork to an ultra high gloss.
We can also silkscreen a varnish layer onto prints made by other processes, these include but are not limited to; Digital and Giclee, Litho, Etching, C-Type and Risograph.
Packing & Shipping
We understand the packaging legislation for various carriers, so we ensure our standards for both UK and international shipments go far beyond the requirements.
Limited editions are usually crated in tri-wall first and then packed into a wooden crate.
For larger works we will often use a trusted art handler to crate and ship the artwork.