New Media Printmaking using the Makerbot

thingiverse

This January, printmaking experienced a revival as CNC machinery was utilized to create relief blocks. Intrigued by the 3D revolution, the author joined Thingiverse and shared their research. Before experimenting, they discovered Jasonwebb's designs that introduced new possibilities in this media. They worked with larger formats, using interlocking tabs for a puzzle-piece assembly, but later switched to multiple press runs of the same block for different colors and orientations. The Makerbot process resulted in a rough aesthetic that was appreciated. The author encourages others to use their designs and explore this new frontier in printmaking, as the technique has potential with some refinements. They used Google Sketchup for designing blocks converted into .stl format, with detailed printing instructions to come.