Laurent Schwarz : general manager
Patrick Gigou : sales manager
Jean-Pierre Lacaze, Jean-Pierre Stholl : consultants, draughtsmen-chromists
Patrick Pramil, Pascal Largesse : machine operators

We work with 5 lithograph presses at the ART ESTAMPE Studio and one numeric Press

• A hand press called a "beast with horns ", used for proofs and small pullings, limited to 30 proof editions on stone.
The role of the lithographer is very important here : his experience of colour and printing gives the quality of pulling.

• A flat Marinoni Press (about 1920) whose design goes back to1865, allows printing of papers up to 70 x 100 cm (27 1/2 x 39 1/2 in),
The advantage of the flat machine : it is faster than the "beast with horns " and allows pullings of a more regular quality. This press is mechanized, and driven by an electric motor. You need three workmen to use it : the driver, the feeder and the receiver.

• Three Roland presses which we use like traditional lithographic presses printing colour after colour.
Two presses 63 x 90 cm (24 1/2 x 35 1/2 in), operated by one workman
One press 78 X 112 cm (31 x 44 in), operated by two workmen.
The advantage of the Roland press : it is operated by one or two workmen instead of three on the Marinoni press, the printing is done more quickly and at a more regular rhythm and the chocks are more precise. So you achieve better results in the sharpness of detail thanks to a better quality of impression.
Certain purists see this as over-mechanisation and the dehumanization of lithography, but the process remains traditional, just more adapted to its time.

• A EPSON 11880 numeric press