Over the past few weeks, Rittagraf and Taller Balam have launched a collaborative initiative through a series of workshops focused on manual printmaking, contemporary graphic arts, and experimental image reproduction techniques.
More than simply organising individual courses, this collaboration is driven by a shared commitment to exchanging knowledge, sharing technical resources, and strengthening the network of people and spaces dedicated to both traditional and contemporary printmaking practices.
Our aim is to open our workshops to new audiences, encourage collaboration between creative communities, and promote new ways of learning through printmaking, stamping and handcrafted graphic processes.
The first workshop took place at Taller Balam, where we led our Photopolymer Stamp Making Workshop. A few days later, we welcomed the Balam team to Rittagraf, where they introduced participants to the creative possibilities of Gelli Plate printing and image transfer techniques.
For those who are not yet familiar with Taller Balam, it is a creative space in Barcelona devoted to artistic education, experimentation and the transmission of traditional crafts. Their programme brings together disciplines such as printmaking, illustration, bookbinding, ceramics and other contemporary craft practices, creating an inspiring environment for sharing techniques, ideas and creative processes.
Although each workshop explored a different technique, both shared the same philosophy: understanding printmaking as a living discipline where experimentation, craftsmanship and knowledge exchange go hand in hand.
Photopolymer Stamp Making Workshop at Taller Balam
The first session took place at Taller Balam, where we taught a stamp making workshop focused on creating custom stamps using water-wash photopolymer plates.
This photopolymer workshop introduced participants to a professional technique originally developed for industrial printing, adapted here into an accessible artistic process suitable for both beginners and experienced makers.
Throughout the workshop we explored the stamp not only as a functional object, but also as a graphic tool deeply connected to relief printing and traditional image reproduction methods.
From artwork to print: the complete photopolymer stamp making process
Throughout the workshop participants learned every stage of the production process:
- Preparing the original artwork
- UV exposure of the photopolymer plate
- Washing and developing the plate
- Mounting the finished stamp
- Inking and printing
To produce the stamps we worked with professional photopolymer plates, including materials such as Toyobo BF95, specifically designed for UV exposure and water development. These materials are also part of the products and starter kits we offer for those wishing to continue experimenting independently after the workshop.
Each participant created their own original designs while exploring different printing possibilities and practical applications.
This photopolymer stamp workshop demonstrated how a light-sensitive material can become a highly versatile tool for illustration, textile printing, graphic design and artistic experimentation.
The stamp as a contemporary graphic tool
One of the most rewarding aspects of the workshop was seeing how participants approached the technique from very different creative backgrounds, including illustration, graphic design, self-publishing, experimental printmaking and visual arts.
We also experimented with different stamping inks and ink pads, discovering how the choice of materials can significantly influence the final printed result.
For the Rittagraf team, it was especially meaningful to share these processes from our daily experience designing and producing custom rubber stamps, approaching the workshop as a space for practical knowledge, technical guidance and creative exchange.
Our goal is to present stamp making from a broader perspective, where the stamp becomes much more than a practical tool—it becomes a versatile graphic language capable of supporting a wide range of contemporary artistic practices.
Gelli Plate and Image Transfer Workshop at Rittagraf
The second part of this collaboration took place at our own studio, where the Taller Balam team introduced participants to the creative possibilities of Gelli Plate printing, monotype techniques and image transfer processes.
This image transfer workshop explored different ways of working with layers, textures, transparencies and unique compositions through experimental printmaking techniques.
Gel printing plates offer endless possibilities for image transfer, monotype printing and texture creation, making them an increasingly popular tool within contemporary printmaking workshops and creative studios.
These techniques are often combined with highly pigmented acrylic paints, ideal for building layers, textures and experimental image transfer processes.
Graphic experimentation and manual image transfer
The workshop combined technical demonstrations with open experimentation, allowing participants to discover how relatively simple tools and materials can generate rich, expressive and highly personal visual results.
Image transfers, layered compositions and the creation of textures encouraged an atmosphere of curiosity, trial and discovery throughout the session.
The versatility of Gelli Plate printing once again demonstrated how contemporary printmaking continues to expand the boundaries between traditional engraving, stamping techniques and experimental image-making.
Building a creative community through shared knowledge
One of the most valuable aspects of this collaboration was experiencing the second workshop from the participants' perspective. It gave us the opportunity to observe different teaching methods, discover new approaches and continue building relationships between spaces that share a passion for contemporary printmaking and handcrafted graphic processes.
We strongly believe in collaborations like this, where knowledge flows in both directions and workshops become much more than learning environments—they become places where creative communities are built.
Continuing to build a network around contemporary printmaking
Beyond the finished works produced during these workshops, both experiences reminded us how important it is to keep building connections between artists, designers, independent workshops and creative spaces dedicated to manual printmaking and contemporary graphic arts.
Sharing spaces, techniques and methodologies creates new opportunities for learning while keeping traditional printmaking practices alive through contemporary, accessible and experimental approaches.
We hope this collaboration between Rittagraf and Taller Balam is only the beginning of many future projects focused on stamp making workshops, photopolymer techniques, image transfer, manual printmaking and contemporary graphic processes.
If you are interested in participating in future workshops on printmaking, custom stamp making, photopolymer techniques or image transfer, we invite you to subscribe to our newsletter, follow Rittagraf on Instagram or visit our online and physical shop, where you will find materials, tools and resources to continue exploring these techniques.