TSD Guide 2025 by The Glasgow School of Art

A G UIDE TO

The Technical Support Department (TSD) are here to help with all the technical aspects and equipment needed for your creative projects. You can rely on us to provide guidance, troubleshooting and ensure your making process runs as smoothly and safely as possible. This guide explains how to access TSD workshops and services. You can also find a wealth of information on TSD’s Canvas pages.

To contact TSD, please email tsdhelp@gsa.ac.uk or use our Helpdesk: qrco.de/TSDHelpdesk.

Analogue Print Guide

Print on Paper

SCREEN

LITHOGRAPHY

ETCHING

≥ A0 any colour Page 18

≥ A1 any colour Page 18

≥ A1 any colour

Page 18

LETTERPRESS

≥ A2 any colour Page 18

Digital Print Guide

Print on Paper

LARGE FORMAT

RISOGRAPH

Print on Textiles

Inkjet ≥ 111cm 4 colours

Laser ≥ A3 4 colours

Page 14

Page 15 Plotters ≥ A0 6 colours

Page 15

Inkjet ≥ 111cm 12 colours

Page 15

Stencil duplicator ≥ A3 6 colours

Page 15

PLA ≥ 160 mm3

Page 16

Inkjet ≥ 160cm wide 4-8 colours

Page 17

Inkjet ≥ 110cm 4 colours

Page 17

WEST GRAHAM STREET

BUCCLEUCH STREET

HILL STREET

RENFREW STREET

SAUCHIEHALL STREET

ROSE STREET

PITT STREET

SCOTT STREET

DALHOUSE STREET

BARNES

BATH

REID BUILDING

Basement | 3D Making

Wood, Metal & Plastics Workshops

Laser Cutters // 3D Printer // Spray Booth // Soldering & Electronics 3DMakeReid@gsa.ac.uk

Ground Floor I F&T CAD (Vinyl, Dye Sublimation & Large Format Print) s.black@gsa.ac.uk

Printmaking (Screenprint & Etching) d.farrar@gsa.ac.uk

Bureau (Info point & equipment loan) bureau@gsa.ac.uk

Studio Team reidstudioteam@gsa.ac.uk

Centre for Advanced Textiles (CAT) (Digital Textiles Print [reactive dye & pigment ink]) cat@gsa.ac.uk

Second Floor | Caseroom e.pickstone@gsa.ac.uk

Digital Photo Suite r.finnie@gsa.ac.uk

Third Floor I Fashion & Textiles Workshops a.miller@gsa.ac.uk

Textiles Workshops (Knit, Weave, Print & Dye, & Embroidery) l.calder@gsa.ac.uk

Fourth Floor | Silversmithing & Jewellery (forging, spinning, casting, milling, pressing & stamping, CAD design & more) s.guthrie@gsa.ac.uk

STOW BUILDING

Ground Floor | Wood & Metal Workshops c.barrowman@gsa.ac.uk

Casting Workshop castingworkshop@gsa.ac.uk

Digital Studio mediastudio@gsa.ac.uk

Studio Team al.williams@gsa.ac.uk

First Floor | Fine Art Photography Workshops (analogue & digital processing, equipment store, lighting studio) & High-Quality

Wide Format Digital Print g.mcghee@gsa.ac.uk

Recording Studio mediastudio@gsa.ac.uk

Second Floor | AV Equipment Library mediastudio@gsa.ac.uk

Fourth Floor | Screenprint, Lithography & Intaglio a.mcgarrigle@gsa.ac.uk

BOURDON BUILDING

Basement | 3D Making

Small scale wood & plastics // Spray Booth // Photo Studio j.cherrie@gsa.ac.uk

Second Floor | Architecture

Photography facilities (lighting studio and equipment store) Large format scanner & plotters c.laurie@gsa.ac.uk

HALDANE BUILDING

Ground Floor | Mould Making and Casting Workshop castingworkshop@gsa.ac.uk

First Floor | Maker Spaces & Electronics Workshops. dunscombe@gsa.ac.uk j.tucci@gsa.ac.uk

Workshop Access

Access to TSD resources is possible using booked slots on Connect 2. Although drop-in access is available, a booking will guarantee your space. Book via the QR code below or visit: qrco.de/Connect2.

To ensure your safety, most workshops require inductions which you can book on Connect 2. Due to the limitations of space and resources, some workshops will prioritise inductions and bookings for programme-specific students.

Please visit TSD on Canvas and the TSD Helpdesk: qrco.de/TSDHelpdesk for frequently asked questions and/or to contact us.

3 Session Model

To maximise the available workshop time, TSD use a 3-session operating model; protecting time for induction and project work, as well as extending evening access. For information regarding workshop inductions, please visit the TSD Canvas page or contact the relevant workshop team leader.

17.00 > 20.30

10.00 > 12.30 14.00 > 16.30

Scheduled Induction & Project Access Supported

NB Some areas may not adhere to the 3 session model during high intensity induction periods such as the beginning of Semester 1.

Studio Team

Our Studio Team helps to keep the buildings open later in the evenings and on Saturdays, so you can make the most of your studio time. They’re here to make sure the space feels safe, welcoming, and supportive, and they’re always a reliable point of contact if you need help.

Most of our Studio Assistants are recent Art School graduates, so they really understand studio life and bring plenty of useful skills and experience with them. All of them are trained in First Aid and Fire Safety, so you’ll always have someone on hand if you need support.

We’re committed to fostering creativity while promoting environmentally conscious practices. We encourage students to consider the ecological impact of their artistic processes. This includes reusing materials whenever possible and being mindful of the origin and provenance of your supplies. Our campus features several re-use hubs where you can find pre-loved materials. We also urge you to remember to switch off machinery and equipment when not in use.

Greener Making Accessibility

We want our workshops to be as accessible as possible. If you experience any barriers, please contact us: tsdhelp@gsa.ac.uk

Closure Periods

There are times of the year when access is prioritised for final year students or if a facility is closed. If this occurs, you will be unable to book it on Connect 2.

Semester 1

Independent Study Week

There may be some closures over independent study week for maintenance & staff training, these will be communicated on Canvas in advance.

Winter Break

TSD resources are closed over the student winter break for maintenance, planning & staff leave.

Semester 2

Spring Break until Final Year Hand-ins

From spring break until the end of semester 2 (or final submissions where these are earlier) access will be prioritised for final year students with advance access to Connect 2. More supported access will be available in the mornings in place of inductions and projects throughout this period.

Semester 3

Access will be limited to students studying on programmes with 3 semesters of study in an academic year. Where possible, access to resources will remain open, however some sessions may be replaced with independent access to accommodate staff leave. Some closures will occur & be communicated in advance for maintenance. If you are likely to require significant assistance from a technician during this period, please discuss this with them well in advance of your deadline to ensure the required support is available.

At GSA we offer students a wide range of printing services that include both wireless and wired printing.

While students are connected to GSA Wi-Fi they can print from their own device. Students must top up

Large Format

Our large format print service is open to anyone in the school. For heavyweight matt or tracing paper with a 4-colour printer up to 89cm wide or for cut vinyl up to 55cm wide, contact Sean who is based on the ground floor of the Reid building: s.black@gsa.ac.uk.

We also have plotters in the Bourdon which can print up to A0. For this, visit the Technical Base on the second floor.

For high quality archival prints up to 111cm wide, visit qrco.de/gsahqprint or scan the QR code below for details on preparing your file and to book your print consultation. A cold mounting service is also available and both are based on the first floor, Stow building. For questions regarding these services, please email: tsdphotography@gsa.ac.uk.

Riso Print

Our Risograph machine is located in the Caseroom on the second floor of the Reid building. You don’t need a Caseroom induction, you can watch a video here: qrco.de/Riso or scan the QR code below. Then just email Ruth to arange a time to use it: r.kirkby@gsa.ac.uk.

3D Print

Our 3D Print service does not require an induction. You must book a print slot on Connect 2: qrco.de/Connect2 and email your files to 3dprinting@gsa.ac.uk. The 3D printers are located in the basement of the Reid building. We use PLA filament and more info can be seen here: qrco.de/3DPrint.

Textiles Print

There are various ways to print onto textiles.

Our dye sublimation facility works best on 100% polyester fabrics. A large format inkjet printer prints onto a substrate which you can then heat press onto your material. Contact Sean who is based on the ground floor of the Reid buiding: s.black@gsa.ac.uk.

In the Centre for Advanced Textiles, we offer direct digital textile printing using either pigment or reactive dye printers. The maximum print width is 160cm x unlimited length and the process is compatible with a range of natural and synthetic fibers. Scan the QR code below, visit qrco.de/CATCanvas, or email cat@gsa.ac.uk for more information.

Printmaking

Inductions for our printmaking facilities are arranged through programmes for Painting & Printmaking, Communication Design, MLitt CAP, MFA. See maps on pp 24-27 for workshop locations. Due to resource capacities, access to workshops for students studying on other programmes is unlikely, though a limited number of consultations and loan equipment is available to support making in these disciplines on Connect 2.

Laser Cutting

The laser cutters are student-led. Please follow the online induction here: bit.ly/laserinduction. Please also see the laser cutting guide to prepare your file here: bit.ly/laserprep.

Copy Room

There are two copy rooms on campus for photographing small works. One is in the Reid basement, and one is on the first floor of Stow. These are bookable on Connect 2: qrco.de/Connect2. Additionally, there are documentation stations around campus: qrco.de/documentationstation.

3D Making

All students can access the 3D Making workshops located in the Reid basement, Stow ground floor and Bourdon basement (see maps on pp 24-27). Access to wood & metal workshops requires an induction which can be booked on Connect 2: qrco.de/Connect2.

Cutting lists, general advice, and material supply are all available without booking. View details of 3D Making facilities on TSD’s Canvas pages. You can also visit TSD Helpdesk: qrco.de/TSDHelpdesk for frequently asked questions or contact us: tsdhelp@gsa.ac.uk.

Casting

All students can access the two Casting Workshops located in Stow and Haldane. There are also two kilns located in the Haldane building. Access requires an induction which is booked on Connect2: qrco.de/Connect2.

Once inducted, students can work with a range of materials such as plaster, Jesmonite, concrete, wax, silicone and gelatine. More information available on Canvas here: bit.ly/gsacast.

Maker Space

The Maker Spaces are on the first floor of the Haldane building. Support for prototyping, modelling and small-scale fabrication is available alongside facilities for physical computing, kinetics, creative coding and electronics projects. We’re also developing facilities for bio-materials experimentation. You can use the Maker Space without an induction. See more here: qrco.de/makersp.

Spray Booth

There are three spray booths on campus: in the basement of the Reid building, in the basement of the Bourdon building and on the first floor in Stow building. Visit qrco.de/GSAsb or scan the QR code below for details on how to access the spray booth.

AV Work

In the annexe on the ground floor of Stow, we have the Digital Studio encompassing high-end postproduction machines, VR studio and computer suite. The recording studio is on the first floor of Stow and the lighting studio (including green screen) is on the second floor; you will need an induction to use these spaces. The AV Equipment Library on the second floor provides equipment loans relating to video, photo and audio work. Find out more here: qrco.de/MediaEL.

Loan Stores

You can borrow a variety of equipment from areas such as the Bureau, the AV Equipment Library, and Photography Store. Equipment is bookable on Connect2 here: qrco.de/Connect2.

Specialist Areas

Due to resource and space limitations, access to certain areas may be restricted for students enrolled in programs outside their specialism. This primarily affects the following disciplines: Fashion, Textiles, Silversmithing & Jewellery, Photography, and Printmaking. We appreciate your understanding as we strive to provide the best possible support for all our students within their respective fields.

Technician Commitment

We are happy to announce GSA have signed the Technician Commitment, an initiative designed to enhance the visibility, recognition and importance of technical staff within the academic community. This commitment is crucial because it not only acknowledges the vital role technicians play in teaching and research but also ensures that we have clear career development pathways and opportunities for professional growth. By fostering a supportive environment, the Technician Commitment helps us maintain high standards of technical expertise, ultimately enriching your educational experience and contributing to the success at GSA.