In my Graphic Design Explore class we went to visit a printing resource center in Portland.
The Independent Publishing Resource Center is a place where anyone in the community can come and use the equipment for making prints/publications, with payment of a user fee.  There are also workshops to help in learning how to do various printing methods, and for graphic design and bookbinding.

When we first came in, we saw a vending machine for "zines"-- it looks like there weren't any zines in it at the time, but it looks very unique and spiffy.

Besides letter press equipment there was an area for making silk screens, and also an out-dated form of copy machine, a Risograph. The Risograph uses actual ink, not toner powder.  So only one color can be used at a time, such as with silk screen.
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​Here is the silk screen area:

And to help with preparing projects, or to make prints using a photocopy machine, there are a few computers and a scanner available for use.

We were given a tour of the IPRC, including taking a look at their large library of "zines."  Our tour guide explained all the opportunities at this resource center-- besides using equipment there is also education available for how to use these various printing methods.

The Independent Publishing Resource Center, in Southeast Portland, is open Tues through Thurs 12 pm - 9 pm and Friday through Sunday 12 pm to 6 pm.  I think it is a great idea, to have a place where these graphic design tools can be accessed by community members at low cost, and training is available for how to use the printing methods. They are not as often used for art and  desktop publishing as laser printing is, but using them could be just what is needed for a certain project.

Have had some photos up in a group photo show for the past month and a half-- it is still up, but this weekend will be the last couple of days.  There are some really interesting photographs in this show, including some printed on both metal and wood!

The show is at Touchmark Village, in Vancouver, WA -- this is a retirement community, and they have a beautiful community room with a grand piano where the photos have been hung.

Here are photos of the photos :)

The black and white photo of the ocean and cliffs, on the left, is printed onto metal.  No frame is needed, and it has a kind of glossy appearance.  The metal-printed photos were by Faun Scurlock.  She has been selling her photography at Vancouver Farmer's Market.

The tree photos on the right are ones I took this past year . . . In fall I was focusing on taking picures of leaves, in winter it was "winter trees" and in spring, all kinds of flowering plants.