We are a DIY-workplace for professional artists and designers and we want to be able to offer everyone the opportunity to work in professional circumstances. This means that we require participants to take responsibility for cleaning all the materials and facilities used (silkscreen frames, textile table etc.) Whenever the materials are not correctly cleaned, we will charge an additional €25.
Always make sure to check the tables, presses, squeegees and other materials before you get to work. AGA LAB and their team try to manage the workplace as well as possible, but sometimes it happens that the previous user didn’t clean the materials properly. If this situation occurs, please inform the staff immediately.
Since you are required to bring your own materials, such as ink, paper or fabric, you are responsible for these particular items. AGA LAB is not to be held accountable for damage to your personal belongings.
SCREENPRINT
The screenprint area is well equipped with four vacuum screen printing tables in various sizes. Our biggest table is A0-size. We have a separate washing room with a high-pressure cleaner and two drying racks.
For textile printing, we have two textile printing-tables available. Both tables are equipped with a very simple repeat system. Textile printing has the same cost as screen printing. The artist should bring their own inks (water based is mandatory) and fabric.
DIGITAL
Come print photography on high-quality inkjet papers. This can be done on matte and glossy paper or self-brought paper. (in consultation) You can also have photos printed by an AGA LAB employee. Photographs are guaranteed to remain colourfast up to 75 years and in black and white up to 100 years
Fine Art Printing of Giclée Printing
Your digital images will be printed perfectly on durable, high-quality paper, films and canvases by our professional Epson printers. The Ultrachrome K3 inks will create intense colours and light-fastness for 80 years. The digital lab is situated on AGA LAB’s entresol, which has a great view of the spacious gym. The lab consists of two full size digital fine art printers, an A2 printer and several computers with the Adobe software (CS6) installed.
Epson Stylus Photo 4880
The standard paper is Hahnemuhle Photorag Satin, Hahnemuhle German Etching and Hahnemuhle Bright White. We can also print on rolls that go to a maximum of 42 cm.
Epson Stylus Pro 9800 and 9880 per m2 (including ink)
The maximum width of the paper roll that can be inserted in the printer is 111,8 cm and the image width has a maximum of 111 cm. It is not possible to print images that have a bleed. Images should be supplied in 240dpi TIF’s with 100% output or high-resolution PDF.
Scanner Epson Expression 10000 XL
The A3 scanner can scan your artwork, slides and negatives in either reflective or transmissive form.
When you want to use other paper than that are listed above, please discuss this with the assistant.
It is possible to print an ‘Inkaid Matte inkjet coating’ or ‘Inkaid Clear Gloss inkjet coating’ on not-so-conventional materials (thin veneer, plastic, aluminium, etc.), to prepare them for printing with regular inkjet ink. Both fluids are €0,45 per layer on A4 size.
RISO – KNUST IN AGA LAB
The Riso is a modern stencil printer, it’s environmentally friendly and very useful for posters, cards, art prints or zines with deep, bright colours. Ever since late 2014, AGA LAB manages, in collaboration with Knust, a DIY Riso workplace!
At Knust in AGA LAB, you can work with two different Riso machines. The Riso MZ1070E (A3) has yellow, orange, fluorescent pink, red, (royal) blue, (delfts) blue, (seafoam) teal, green and black colour drums. The Riso V8000 (A3+) has purple, fluorescent orange and black. It’s only possible to print on raw, uncoated paper. This paper is available in the workplace.
Start DIY-ing at AGA LAB with the help of motivated and knowledgeable volunteers. Their backgrounds range from graphic designers, comic book makers and illustrators.
Make an appointment through drukwerk@extrapool.nl or call 020-6252186.
Interested in becoming a volunteer at the Riso department of AGA LAB? Apply through drukwerk@extrapool.nl.
It’s also possible to print more coloured print work in a bigger size (A2), or print on demand at Knust in Nijmegen: www.knustpress.nl.
RELIEF PRINTING
AGA has an offset proofing press (Havlik) which basely is adjustable in height. • The maximum size is 60 x 80 cm. • You can also use our etching presses for relief printing by raising the upper roll (the maximum size is 100 x 190 cm). Use of the presses, newspaper press and the cleaning products are all included in the price. Artists should bring their own paper and inks.
ETCHING
We have four etching presses of different sizes (52 x 110 cm, 75 x 130 cm, 80 x 140 cm). The largest (100 x 190 cm) is motorised. There are two acid baths (100 x 130 cm) and a movable bath for very large sizes (up to 73 x 109 cm).
In the workshop, there’s also a metal cutter, a tank for moisturising paper (80 x 120 cm), three ovens and two raised worktables available for use. In the wet room, there’s an aquatint box with powdered resin (70 x 80).
There are a contact printing box and a small darkroom available for making photopolymer etchings. The use of presses, newspaper press, cleaning products and the possibility of biting the etching plates are all included in the price.
The safe, as well as the environmentally friendly working method of our studio, is what distinguishes us from others. We have replaced harmful solvents with VCA/salad oil and instead of traditional varnish, we use acrylic primers as much as possible. Instead of using acid, which produces corrosive vapours, we use copper sulphate and iron chloride for etching. All chemical and residual waste will be either exhausted or recycled.
LITHOGRAPHY
There are two lithographic presses: a manual press (65 x 90 cm) and a motorised press (100 x 200 cm). A grinder and a grinding tank are also available. We have a large selection of stones (the largest size is 60 x 95 cm), ink rollers and a tackle for lifting stones. Lithographers pay a 10% surcharge in addition to the entrance fee for the “rock fund”. Use of presses, newspaper press, resin and talc, carborundum and cleaning products are all included in the price.
DARKROOM
The analogue darkroom consists of a couple of basic facilities to make black-and-white prints and to develop films. The darkroom is equipped with a Durst magnifier, dark room lighting, rinsing tubes and chemicals. For specific prints, it would be best to bring your own chemicals. AGA LAB offers a basic provision of chemicals: developer (for paper – AGFA multi-contrast), fixer (Amaloco X55) and photo flow. These will be available to your for a fee of €3. If you want to develop your own film you should bring your own developer. Developing tanks (for 35mm and 120mm film) and fixative are also available for use in our darkroom. For booking the darkroom and more information, mail to info@agalab.nl