A classroom-ready print station, packed for movement
This kit is built for school workshops that need order from the first pencil sketch to the last clean-up. It brings the main hand-printing tools into one transportable set, so a teacher, facilitator or visiting printmaker can work through carving, inking and printing without hunting for loose items.
The setup centres on safe carving with lino or soft-cut blocks, handled with gouges and V-tools, then moved to brayers, ink slabs, barens and a hand press where the format allows it. It suits flat classroom tables, art rooms, library spaces and halls where the floor plan changes from one visit to the next.
- Suitable for relief printing workshops with beginners and mixed-age groups
- Organised for supervised carving, rolling ink and pulling small editions
- Easy to separate into carving, inking and drying zones
- Works for short sessions or longer print programmes
What sits inside the kit on workshop day
The School Pop-Up Kit is grouped so each step has its own place. Blocks, cutting tools and safety pieces stay together at the carving table, while inks, brayers and registration guides move to the printing side. This keeps wet and sharp items apart, which matters when a room is full of learners and papers.
Typical contents can be scaled to the group size and the type of class. A small group may only need a few carving stations, while a full class may need more brayers, spare blocks and drying lines or racks. The same core kit can be adjusted for single-colour images or a simple layered print with careful registration.
- Lino or soft-cut blocks in workshop sizes
- Safe-handled gouges and V-tools for supervised carving
- Brayers, ink slabs and mixing tools
- Water-based block inks and, where required, oil-based block inks
- Barens, hand pressure tools and a small press for demo or edition work
- Registration guides, masking tape, paper stock and drying support
Sizes and layouts that suit different groups
There is no single classroom layout that works everywhere, so the kit is planned in sizes that can be matched to the room and the booking. A smaller set keeps the table calm for a focused class, while a fuller set is better when several stations must run at once. For school halls or multipurpose rooms, the print area can be split into carving, proofing and final print sections.
Cartridge, newsprint and kozo each give the class prints a different look. Softer papers take a clear impression with hand pressure or a baren, while sturdier sheets hold up better when a press is used. The right choice depends on the block size, the ink type and whether the session ends with a single proof or a small numbered edition.
- Compact layout for a single class table or a small group
- Expanded layout for multi-table sessions and visiting workshops
- Paper options for light hand printing or stronger press work
- Flexible station count for schools, youth groups and family sessions
Where the kit fits best in schools and venues
Woodstock classrooms, Cape Town halls and satellite venues in Stellenbosch, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban all ask for a slightly different setup. The kit suits art rooms with good table space, but it also works in libraries, multipurpose rooms and covered outdoor areas where learners can move between block carving and printing without crossing busy walkways.
It is especially useful for pop-up teaching days, arts weeks, heritage projects and teacher-led workshops. When a room has tight access or shared furniture, the kit can be arranged in smaller clusters so the ink side, carving side and drying side stay readable for the group. That saves time during the handover between steps and reduces confusion when several classes pass through.
- School art rooms with stable tables or trestles
- Halls, libraries and community rooms with enough circulation space
- Covered outdoor venues for larger workshop groups
- Teacher training sessions where each process needs to be shown clearly
Set-up notes for safe carving and clean printing
Good pop-up printing starts with a clear room plan. Carving stations need a firm surface, slip protection and enough elbow room for controlled gouge work. Ink stations need a smooth slab, brayers that roll evenly and paper stacked where it will not pick up dust or damp. If the group is large, the flow from drawing to carving to inking should be marked out before the first block is cut.
Registration matters once learners start making editions. A simple guide or corner stop helps the paper land in the same position for each print, which matters when a design has borders or separate colour layers. Where a press is used, the table must stay level and the path from block to press should be kept free of bags, lunch boxes and loose chairs.
- Level table surfaces help with clean inking and even pressure
- Slip mats and block support reduce movement during carving
- Drying space must be planned before the first print is pulled
- Registration aids keep editions aligned across each sheet
Care, packing and ordering details to sort out first
The kit keeps best when each tool goes back into its own tray or wrap after use. Gouges need edge protection, brayers should be cleaned before ink builds up on the roller, and blocks should be dried flat so they do not warp or pick up grit. Water-based inks need prompt washing from tools and slabs, while oil-based inks call for a more careful clean-down and a proper storage routine between sessions.
When ordering, it helps to confirm the age group, expected number of learners, room size, print method and whether the session is a one-colour introduction or a fuller edition print class. If the booking needs a venue setup service, say whether the tables are supplied, how much floor space is available and whether the group will work in one room or across several stations. If you need a custom kit list, use our contact form and include the workshop format, venue town and the paper size you want to print.
- How many learners, and which grade
- Confirm lino or soft-cut preference
- Confirm hand pressure printing, baren use or press use
- Confirm paper size, edition count and drying space
- Confirm access points for loading and unpacking at the venue
