Digital Print Composition for Technophobes (Remote ONLY)

So you’ve fallen for the cut-and-paste world of DIY lo-fi flyers and zine-making—but sometimes you want crisp type, a clean line, or a graphic you can edit without investing in expensive software or watching endless YouTube videos for pointers. Welcome to our newest Zoom-only workshop: Digital Composition for Technophobes! This is a friendly, no-jargon introduction to building simple digital text and monochrome graphics using nothing but free tools that are probably already sitting on your phone and computer. 

This is a fully online evening workshop built for total beginners. If you’ve ever felt intimidated by design software, this class is for you. We’ll slow everything down, use plain language instead of technical terms, and give you a repeatable workflow you can return to again and again—no drawing tablet, no paid subscriptions, no design degree required. 

We’ll cover everything you need to know to confidently build monochrome digital artwork, including: Free Software Demystified: Getting comfortable with free, accessible apps on both your phone and your computer—what each one is good for, and how to move files between them. Text & Type: Setting type cleanly, choosing legible free fonts, and laying out simple text compositions by hand-eye rather than by rulebook. Thinking in Black & White: Building strong monochrome (single ink) graphics—line art, high-contrast images, and simple shapes—that reproduce cleanly no matter where they end up. Know Your Destination, Know Your File: The three lives your artwork might lead—sent off to a platemaker for photopolymer plate reproduction, cut up by hand for analog collage, or run through the RISO duplicator verbatim—and how to size, export, and save your file correctly for each. 

The Project Working step-by-step alongside your instructor, you will design a complete piece of monochrome text or graphic artwork on your phone or computer, then export it three ways: as a print-ready file for photopolymer platemaking, as a printed sheet ready to be cut up for collage, and as a file ready to run verbatim on the RISO duplicator. Warning: Once digital composition clicks, it becomes a fast, endlessly repeatable feeder for your analog work—crisp source material you can platemake, cut, or print again and again. You’ll leave with finished files in hand, a new toolkit of freeware skills, and the confidence to prep your own artwork for whatever comes next.

This is a REMOTE, one-evening workshop hosted live over video call. Space is limited to ensure everyone gets personal feedback on their file. Level: This class is appropriate for adult students at all levels, especially those with little to no design software experience. No prior printing or digital art experience required! 

Tech Notes: You must have access to a personal computer or internet-connected device to participate in this course via Zoom.  ABAC is not staffed to provide assistance with Zoom setup or operation at this time.  The apps that we will utilize in the lesson are Canva, and Google Drive/Docs, so please ensure that you can access these platforms independently before you register for the class. We are unable to provide personal tech support for basic access. Instruction and technical assistance are limited to the subject matter of the workshop and strictly limited to the time that you are actively attending the lesson. For basic technology help, please consider contacting our friends at Austinfree.net for free in-person tech skills classes. https://www.austinfree.net/in-person-workshops. Classes through Freenet are offered every week, the program is funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Digital Inclusion Initiative.

Dates & Times: Wed. 6 – 9 pm, December 2nd

Please choose the appropriate ticket type below. Member Benefit: Members receive a 10% discount off the cost of the workshop, among other benefits. Click here to join as a Member, then choose the Member Rate below. Studio Certification: Completion of this class qualifies you to use the RISO studio for your own independent projects during Open Studio hours. Details on Open Studio may be found here.

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR This workshop is led by Steven N. Landry, who has a great love and mucho experience in both digital and analog printing, as well as print project instruction moves. Just as comfortable behind a phone screen as behind the press, your instructor specializes in translating intimidating software into plain, friendly language—helping technophobes build real confidence with free digital tools. They will be there to guide you through the quirks of digital file prep with a lot of patience, tons of practical knowledge, and plenty of enthusiasm.