Etching involves drawing marks into a plate, filling the marks with ink and printing on a press, a process little changed from Rembrandt's time. The difference is that the computer and photo reactive material have changed how the marks are placed on the plate. In ART 242 Digital Imaging: Etching, both approaches will be investigated, including the newest method of drawing with a graphics tablet directly to the computer.

Screenprinting presses ink through a stencil that has been placed on fabric. In ART 243 Digital Imaging: Screenprinting, the fabric is polyester, the stencil is rendered by detailed photo emulsion and the stencil image is created on the computer by using a graphics tablet to sketch, draw, edit and collage. Images are transferred precisely to the screen using a basic photo process, and once on the screen, are layered in multiple colors.

All courses have many demonstrations, discussions and critiques, since each course creates ideas against a background of dialogue and technique. Students develop a personal opinion by discussing their images in class with their peers and producing increasingly sophisticated ideas. This participation in an artist community extends to the annual faculty review, which offers an opportunity to present opinions and artwork to the entire Department. This effort culminates in the capstone experience for Studio Art, the senior exhibition. Students concentrating in Printmaking will enroll in ART 495 Printmaking Thesis, and prepare a thesis and mature portfolio of artwork that will result in a Gallery exhibition and publication in the Department's Art Journal.