Loco For Gocco

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Print Gocco, we'll start with a brief intro to what we refer to as The Little Machine That Could.

Print Gocco is a small, inexpensive, and easy to use screen printing tool that originated in Japan. Gocco uses flash bulbs similar to those found in old cameras to thermally imprint an original image onto a master screen. Prints are made by pressing the ink-applied master screen against a sheet of paper placed on a sponge pad. While Riso (the company to thank for Print Gocco) officially ceased production of the Gocco in 2005, you can still buy them online through a few different suppliers.

Before we begin, the first thing you need to do is to create your design. For simplicity's sake, we're going with a one color design for this tutorial. There are many ways to create your design -- rubber stamps, drawing by hand, designing on a computer, etc. One thing to keep in mind when designing: unless your design is printed using a laser printer, you MUST use a photocopy of your original design. The reason for this is in the thermal imaging process Gocco uses to create the screen from your design. The flash bulbs reflect heat from the black carbon-based image on the original to burn the image into the master screen. Carbon is not present in all kinds of ink, therefore you must use a photocopy (which is carbon-based).

Once you have the photocopied original, you're ready to Gocco! Let's get started!

Step 1

If you haven't done so already, install your 2 AA batteries into the top handle of the Gocco.

Comments

[Emilene]

What are the websites that still supply Gocco? I would love to get more screens! I have used Gocco before but I had one problem with changing the color. Is it possible? If so, what is the correct way of cleaning the screen in order to change the color?

[nrlucre]

Have you tried a graphite pencil drawing? Isn't that guaranteed to be carbon?

[macrumpton]

Graphite works fine. I did my first prints that way. If you have a drawing done in ink or something else that is not gocco compatible just make a photocopy or scan and laser print it.

[craftershock]

You bring up a good point. We haven't tried that, but don't see why it wouldn't work. The designs we've used with the Gocco have always been created on a computer, so we never even thought to try!

[valhallas_end]

-My friend's used one of these for a while (he's an art major), and does all of his original drawings by hand. He does use pencils, but there's potential for a huge mess - unless you use an incredibly hard pencil (9HH and up) with zero percent filler, you're image will be spotty - most fillers and binders semi-melt when exposed to such an intense flash. I'd suggest paying a bit more for true pure carbon pencils of the hardest quality available. Avoid any pencil with resin in it. If you can't find pure carbon bars (which seem the most commercially available), look for high-grade carpenter's pencils.
-Just be warned though: you will go through several full sticks per drawing because of the medium's hardness. If you don't mind a few splotches or minor graininess, buy carbon sketching pencils...they're fairly soft and very smooth, covering a large area per lead, but invariably contain minor fillers. They're cheap and easy to find thougheasy to find though.

[valhallas_end]

And ignore my hilarious attempt at linking...I'm not awake enough for Instructables it seems...

[cokecola]

I have demonstrated the print gocco years ago. One of the most profitable things to do is print napkins for parties, graduations, weddings etc. After I create the screen I attach it to the gocco stamper and stamp away. It actually goes quite fast

[eskimojo]

This thing is really cool! I'm thinkin' of getting me one. My uncle does screen printing but on a different level(he owns a business), and this would be great for birthday cards and whatnot. Thanks for putting this up, i've never heard of these... cool little invention and convenient too.