Printing Something Long (Again...)
I reprinted Something Long last night! It turned out great in the end—but wow, getting there was a rollercoaster of test prints, ink drama, and tiny disasters.
Actually, I reprinted Something Long last night! 🎉
In the end, the colors came out really beautiful, so I’d say it was a big success. But to get there, I had to do a ton of test prints—and even now, there are still a few “gah!” moments when I look at it. Still, the printing is officially DONE!
Our Riso machine at home is super old and kind of moody. It especially struggles with registration. But! My husband discovered a secret “service mode” where you can print slowly, one sheet at a time—and somehow, that made the registration come out surprisingly accurate!
...However! The ink ended up being too strong. I had made the print files with full 100% ink density like I usually do at Spudnik Press, but on our machine, that was just too much. The ink soaked through the paper, and sometimes it even transferred onto other prints! Total chaos. Definitely a lesson for next time: no more than 90% ink density!
Actually, on December 20th, my husband is joining TCA Zinefest 2025: The Power of Prints at the MCA, and I’m going with him! I’m hoping to show Something Long there, too. Fingers crossed!