IDEA PRACTICUM 2021 (WEEK 4)

Half-way through!

This week I learned a couple of new stations and kept plugging away at my illustrations. The fruit and vegetable notepad covers are still coming along. I think I’m on the 5th iteration now. Oof. But I think they’re super close to being done! Besides the notepad covers, I also created an ice cream birthday card this week. Heather and I were worried that one design element on the card was too close to the Ernest Ice Cream logo. They happen to be right next door to Porchlight Press. But ultimately, we decided it was different enough when we placed the two illustrations side by side.

(Earnest Ice Cream branding)

As far as the printing stations, I got to see how a press plate gets made. For those who don’t know, printing plates are the things that get attached to the plate cylinders on the printing press. Ink and water are applied to rollers, then transferred to another cylinder and then to the plate, then pressed onto the paper.

(The printing presses as Porchlight)

I’m no expert on the process of making a printing plate but here is my bastardized version: You take a piece of photopolymer plate then place a piece of photo paper on top with the design on it. That then goes into the plate machine, after which some science happens and voila a printing plate!

(Finished Plate)

Lastly, this week, I learned how to use the industrial paper cutter. It’s this machine with a HUGE blade that can cut through dozens of pieces of paper at once. The way the machine is designed, one has to press two buttons with both hands simultaneously for the blade to come down. This way, no one loses any fingers! It’s really satisfying to watch the blade cut through a stack of paper lie butter. Yummy.

(Paper cutting machine)

See you next week!
Naomi
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IG: nomi.evers
naomievers.com

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