FAQs for Live Printing Services
What is live printing?
Our live printing booths aim to provide a casual, hands-on printmaking experience for guests to appreciate the handicraft behind each print. It offers a casual and quick print-and-go experience for events.
Do note that it is a fringe activity and not meant for mass production. Should you have a number to fulfil, we can provide pre-handprinted ones few weeks prior the event for you distribution on top of a live printing booth.
What to expect from our silkscreen live printing services?
Each printing booth can handprint 50-80 pieces in 2 hours, with 3-5 minutes allocated for each participant. Do note that the timing is an estimated gauge and will be adjusted according to each individual’s learning curve. With our guidance, success rates for each print is at 90% for silkscreen live printing.
Faults or - as we liked to call - happy accidents usually happens when they didn't apply enough strength to push the ink through the screen, or go too fast on the squeegee. For some, a few rounds is required to get it right and we always prepare a small number of spares for redos. But, we say, these happy accidents add a unique character, making the print one-and-only.
What is an event workshop service?
We can conduct a full course on either one or a few printmaking techniques (please refer to our workshop page to see what is available) at your event location. We can cater to your duration, number of participants, and number of classes a day.
Do note some of our workshop have certain age limits due to handling of sharp carving tools. Let us know, and we can custom the curriculum according to your requirements.
What information do I need to provide for a quote?
Type of live printing or workshop you intend to have.
The duration of the workshop.
The estimated or catered number of participants.
The amount of products you expect us to print.
How do we contribute to the participant's experience during the printing process?
As part of our philosophy, we will explain the theory, how it is done and the nitty gritty details of how to hold the equipment and what to look out for. We want to equip them with the necessary information to create their unique print, guiding and advising them along the way. They are allowed to express their own creativity during the workshop with the presented tools.
We love nothing more than seeing participant’s joyous expressions when they get their print right!
Can we print multi-colours? And what about the design?
For live printing, we will only be able to do 1 colour prints. This is to reduce the number of processed and effectively control the crowd. (Utilising different layers of colour will take longer to produce the end product.) As for the artwork you can provide us or allow us to design one for you at an additional cost.
Please refer to below for the design requirement for silkscreen prints.
What other restrictions or limitations we are unable to do?
We shall not accept individual personalisation or customisation for live printing event.
We only print on maximum A4 sized tote bags and paper products only.
We shall not accept any large scale event that span across days to weeks, or high volume within short hours. We are only a team of 2.
We shall not accept last minute job request which is less than a month or absurd volume and short timeline. Don’t make your problem into our problem.
What are the requirements for the design?
For silkscreen printing, try to avoid design elements with thin hairlines, shadings or small icons and fonts. Keep the designs simple and avoid intricate details. Designs that are too small will not be able to allow ink to register on the printed product.
What can we print on?
There are limitation on what can we print on, but mostly it will be on fabric or paper. For fabric, there will be certain requirement in order to get the best result.
Do take note of the fabric thread count so the ink can be pulled through the mesh and deposit the ink on the fabric surface. If the fabric is too rough, the ink will not be able to seep and absorb into the fabric.
Our silkscreen printing process is not applicable on leather, plastic and metal surfaces, it requires different kind of ink and curing method.
Why if there are unprinted leftovers?
We will not guarantee the final number of prints as quoted because it is subjected to the event numbers as per the participant's engagement. By the end of the event, the remaining print on materials which is not printed will be given to you, or as a gesture of goodwill we can print the remainders and deliver to you in one week or longer, depending on the quantity left.
Can we purchase our own tote bags or other materials, and get your team over to print?
Yes, we are flexible in changing the print materials, as long it is suitable. Do note that there are requirements to look out for. Some Tote bag fabric thread count will affect the print quality and only certain types of paper are suitable for printing.
What else do we need to prepare?
We will require tables, chairs, electrical outlets with extension (for drying equipment) and a water outlet for washing and cleaning as part of the workshop or live printing set up.
If the tables or floor cannot be stained, please cover up with plastic sheets or newspapers. If you require us to do an introduction on the printmaking techniques (history, modern evolution and application), please provide a computer and projector with its screen.
FAQs for Our Workshops
How do I make a booking?
Our workshop is by appointment basis, we are open Tuesday to Sunday, 1:00pm to 6:00pm, do drop us an email via the workshop booking link for the type of printmaking you wish to attend, and let us know when you want your workshop to be conducted with your preferred date and time. (Don’t tell me you are flexible, when we decide for you, and you are unable to make it for that day.)
We do not open classes or do intakes, our studio is just a vessel for people who are interested, keen to learn and have fun. Vacancies depending on availability. (Also because we have day jobs)
Can I bring my own design for the workshop?
Yes, you can. You can send us the preview of your design and we can give some advice. As there will be some constraints and restrictions because of the technique, or time, or because you are still a beginner. We do provide templates as well if you are unsure of what to do too.
Why am I not allowed to use the design I found for the workshop?
Simple, because it belonged to other artist. You are stealing. Even though it is just for workshop, education or training purpose. But we are using it without their permission. Printmaking is a technique that duplicates artwork. We do care for other artist intellectual properties, and do not advocate plagiarising others’ artwork for our workshop. Do look for templates or stock images for your design.
What if I insist on using the design I “found” from the internet?
You can recreate the artwork with your own style, break it apart, change the elements, rearrange the layout. In a way same same but different. Inspired by the original concept kind of vibe. If you are an artist or designer, we believe you get what I mean.
Another option is we can help you find something similar but its stock design. And if is still not satisfied, we can help you fully customise whatever you want, with an additional fee of course.
Can I book a workshop via Instagram DM?
Most likely we will ask you to drop us an email, and we really don’t see our Instagram DM much too. And best is still via email, because we need to send you an invoice with payment details, and some instructions too. Sorry, we do not have automated workshop checkout page here. (Unless we are getting workshop sign ups on daily basis.)
Why I didn’t get a reply on my workshop bookings?
Mostly probably you did not read our instructions carefully, if you cannot follow our instructions, or you think otherwise, its ok, maybe the way we run the workshop is different from others.
Imparting skills comes with instructions, and we what we are most afraid of is, during our workshop, we have to teach with instructions, and we are genuinely worried you might not be able to keep up during workshop.
Maybe thats why you ended up in this FAQ because you decided to read, also we do not reply incomplete email, because we do not have suffice information to proceed, or irrelevant to the workshop booking, or telling me you are flexible with time and date, or simply, we cannot comprehend your English language. (I can go on and on…)
Are there any age limits for your workshops?
Most of our workshop minimum age is 12 onwards, as some require certain dexerity and strength.
Only our papermaking workshop can be done with family that has young children from 6 years old onwards.
Why I need to pay first before attending your workshops?
Most of the time we will not be in studio, unless we have projects or consignments. Or happen to be chilling in there. So paying upfront means you committed to attend, and to confirmed the allocated booking, also paying my time to be there for you.
Of course if there is any urgent matters from your side, you are allowed to reschedule the workshop. And can be on hold indefinitely, till the workshop is conducted and concluded in our studio.
Why such short opening hours?
We got day job. We already sacrificed our Saturday and Sunday. Why not let us off on Monday? Unless you bringing us daily massive numbers sign ups, we can open 24/7 just for you.
Why I cannot get the booking date and time I wanted?
Most likely we are fully booked or busy with other events during that period, of course we will provide all our available time and dates, and we do hoped some will be able to match your availability too.
But if you are still unhappy, and cannot move on. Perhaps you can consult your religion leader, or psychiatrist for advice, or whatever consultancy or readings, that you always do to have assurance in life. Maybe they can give you further clarity on such issue, or certain rituals has to be done to make sure our schedule meets somewhere in the future.
How to make my booking fast and smooth?
To be honest, when you are keen to participate, eager to learn. A little process to make payment will not be an obstacle for you. Set a clear date and time you wanted to drop by, be patient for the reply, (provided you have all the information in the email you sent). Our next reply most likely will have the invoice attached to make payment. Scan the QR code and make payment, reply the email again, with a screenshot of the transaction. And you are ready confirmed and look forward to the day of the workshop.
How to ensure my booking is confirmed?
Our system is very simple, let’s say there are few bookings coming in wanted for the same day and same time. We will respond to whoever book the day and date first in our inbox, and we will wait for your payment. Best to book like a week before the date you preferred.
After a few days, if there is no response, and we have another booking who requested the same day and time as the first booking, but the only difference is, after we reply with invoice, they pay immediately or before the first person who booked. And this booking will be granted to the person who has paid for. Priority shall always be given to those who paid.
We will also send email to inform the person who did the first booking that the date and day is booked for, and even they still want to pay for it, most likely we will rearrange the booking, or we will do a refund if the person has made payment.
So, moral of the story is, after receiving the invoice, pay as soon as possible to secure your spot.
I was issued with an invoice, and I changed my mind. What can I do?
Most people who we responded with invoice and ghosted us. We do appreciate a reply saying you cannot make it anymore or change of mind. At times, when we have a few bookings we actually block out the slot, and put it on hold just for you. Until you pay of course.