GOCCO FAQ
• What is a gocco?
It’s a tabletop screenprinting machine that was made in Japan and does not require a darkroom. They are no longer being manufactured, but are relatively easy to find and remain popular.
• Which model do you have?
I bought the PG-11, which I found used from Print Addict Japan on etsy. The PG-11 is nice because the registration bed can move around. If you really want to save money, you can get away with the model without the moving print bed…. Realistically, I don’t use it all that often.
• How does it do with type?
It does really well with type (see my invitations here). I used a script with very fine strokes, and I also printed our return address in a 6.5pt serif font and it looked great. NOTE: I have accidentally received some gocco ink that does terribly with type, and if you’re having trouble printing this wrong ink may be the culprit. The ink I use has a top with a diameter of about 11/16″. If you receive a tube of ink with a skinnier top, that ink may be too thin and cause small type to become illegible. The English part of the ink tube label is exactly the same, and the only difference I could tell was the size of the top. Maybe the top has nothing to do with it and it’s just a bad tube of ink… but ordering a new batch of ink may solve type troubles.
• What are the downsides to gocco?
I think the biggest downside with the gocco is how expensive the machine and supplies are (each time you do a print run it costs about $15 for just the screen & bulbs (plus shipping, ink, & paper!) And, occasionally, you do get bad bulbs. I also wish I could make larger prints — the maximum print size for the PG-11 is less than 4×6″.
• Are you happy with it?
Overall, I’m really happy with my gocco. I used to do screenprinting and don’t have the facilities for it anymore, so the gocco is a pretty good substitute. It’s a lot of fun and very satisfying to be able to print things yourself.
• Is it hard to use?
I had some screenprinting experience, which made things easier, I think, at the beginning. Once you get the hang of it, and learn what type of imagery works and doesn’t work with screenprinting, and how to do registration, etc. it is really very easy. I used the gocco for the first time to print my wedding invitations. We had a rocky start but eventually got the hang of it. For the first print run, I’d recommend playing around with something simple, and staying away from a full-on invitation project. I’ve never met a gocco user who hasn’t had their fair share of mishaps and frustrations!
• Has it saved you money?
We used expensive paper for our invitations and the gocco was expensive, so I’m not sure we saved much money on that specific project. However, we now have a gocco that we use often and in the long run, it has saved money on printing costs. Plus, the end product is beautiful. If you are thinking of purchasing it for one-time use for invitations, it will only be worth it if you can sell the machine afterward. Otherwise, I would be surprised if you save much money, and it does take a lot of time.
• Can you do bold patterns? (I’m thinking of your programs and your recently designed floral pattern invites.)
For patterns that are more than 2 colors or have tight registration, I use digital printing and do not gocco them (WAY too much work). I printed my programs digitally, because really it was much more cost & time effective (I had to do 180 of them, six pages each). I don’t usually do print runs unless I’m going to be printing 50+ copies, and bring print runs with multiple layers are pretty exhausting, to me at least. Of course, there is no limit to how many layers you can do.
• Can you print on fabric?
Yes! I haven’t tried it, but you can buy special fabric inks to use with the gocco.
• How do I make a print with a bleed?
For those who don’t know: A bleed is when the ink goes all the way to the edge of the page, like this. There are two ways you can do it. First (the way I did it) is that I tore up a bunch of scrap paper, and laid it beneath the print. So when I printed the flower image, the edges of the flower were actually being printed on the scrap paper, and the main part of the flower got printed on my invitation. Each time you do a print, you need a new piece of scrap paper to catch the ink that’s going off the edge of the invitation. The other way to do it is to print like normal, then tear your paper down to size so that it looks like the image runs off the edge.
• How long does a bulb last? How about a screen?
Bulbs last for one screen burning. It’s like those old photo bulbs, you get one shot! Screens are small so you can sometimes fit a couple of designs on there, depending. You can only burn a screen once, so it’s good to plan ahead. For example, if you’re printing return addresses on envelopes, that leaves a lot of room for another design! I’ve heard that you can clean screens for later re-prints, but haven’t had much luck myself.
• Should I buy new or used?
You should make sure it’s in good working condition, but… BUY USED! There are lots of people out there with good gocco intentions, who use the thing once or twice and then resell it. That way you’ll have a few extra bucks for extra supplies!
• I’m about to use my gocco for the first time. Do you have any tips?
A few, yes. And one horror story. You can see how I do registration here.
• Can you point me to other resources?
+ Northwood Studios has a good FAQ section.
+ Etsy has a how-to video.
+ The Small Object has a tutorial.
+ Lots of info on Save Gocco.
• Where do you get your supplies?
I have used Northwood Studios and Print Addict. Print Addict has higher shipping rates since they are located in Japan, but are very prompt and kind. I recommend Welsh Products (my favorite supplier) and you can also visit Save Gocco for suppliers.
• Do you know anything about Yudu?
No… but there are reviews on etsy!
Responses to “GOCCO FAQ”
Margarite
July 31, 2009 at 8:30 amCan you print on fabric with a gocco?
ellie
July 31, 2009 at 10:06 amthanks for the question margarite, i’ve answered it above!
Margarite
August 4, 2009 at 9:32 amThanks, Ellie! Your blog is wonderful, by the way :)
Stacey
August 4, 2009 at 11:22 amI recently purchased a Gocco PG-10 and I have burned through 6 screens and I can not get a clean reproduction. Can you tell me when you make your copies is your imagery black or a tint value of black? Everything I see online when I look this up says I probably have too much carbon? I tried dusting my copies with chalk dust and I have tried different tint values but my paper always sticks to the screen and leaves a splotchy print.
Help if you can! Please! I am dying to get something good!
Thanks!!!
ellie
August 4, 2009 at 1:48 pmHi Stacey,
The copies need to be 100% black. You are definitely using fresh photocopies and not print-outs? The paper should stick to the screen. What do you mean by a splotchy print?
Stacey
August 4, 2009 at 2:55 pmI started off using 100% black fresh photocopies from Kinkos. When I burned my first couple of screens everything that I printed had a blotchy look where some areas got ink and others did not. So when I printed a small solid area, it was like only part of the screen was exposed so ink only came through in some areas. I had a little better luck using a copy that had been lightened to about 50% black but my text was not clean and had broken areas in it.
ellie
August 4, 2009 at 3:34 pmOne thing I’ve found with all screenprinting is that it takes sometimes ten prints before things start to look the way you want them to. May also be a pressure issue? The last thing I can think of is that it’s hard to get large, even solid areas… but that doesn’t explain your text and small area issues! The only time that happened to me, it was because I had some bad bulbs. Man, that’s frustrating…
tasha
August 17, 2009 at 6:26 pmman this makes me feel so sick.. i got a gocco printer set from my grandma when i was 8yrs old. i had so much fun with it but the japanese store i bought it from stopped selling the products. i thought it went out of business.. im 24 now and i just went home to clear out my old room to give away things i no longer use. i came across my gocco printer and put it up at my garage sale. no one bought it so i sent it away to salvation army.
that was about 2wks ago. today i just learned from your site that you can still buy gocco products.
ahh this makes me feel so sick in the stomach….. :(
erin
August 18, 2009 at 9:36 pmHi Ellie! I am designer thinking of buying a Gocco. Can you answer a few questions for me? These may be stupid so hold on to yourself . . . :)
How “long” does a bulb last?
Can you only use a screen for one design?
Thank you in advance!
ellie
August 18, 2009 at 9:44 pmTasha: that’s awful!! i’m so sorry… not many people know what they are so with luck maybe it’s still at the salvation army.
Erin: bulbs last for one screen burning. It’s like those old photo bulbs, you get one shot!
Screens are small (roughly 4×6″ I think) so you can sometimes fit a couple of designs on there, depending. You can only burn a screen once, so it’s good to plan ahead. For example, if you’re printing return addresses on envelopes, that leaves a lot of room for another design! I’ve heard that you can clean screens for later re-prints, but haven’t had much luck myself.
erin
August 18, 2009 at 9:46 pmThank you so much Ellie!
erin
August 18, 2009 at 9:59 pmOne more question . . . how do you feel about buying a used Gocco? Worth the money or should I pay more for a new one?
ellie
August 19, 2009 at 8:18 amI’d definitely go used… there are lots of perfectly good goccos out there that have only been used once or twice!
Heather
January 11, 2010 at 5:53 pmI just came across this and it’s been SO helpful. Thank you!
erin
February 13, 2010 at 11:43 amhi ellie,
can you help me with a screen burning issue? i’ve read that the photocopy needs to be “fresh” to get a good screen. does this mean just copied right before i use it? i got my image copied a few days ago and the paper stuck to the screen so bad that it took over almost the entire image. also when i peeled the paper off (in the places it actually came off), it looked like i actually pulled the “ink” or burn off in stripes. hope that makes sense. should i get a new fresh copy or maybe try another copy from this week withOUT the blue filter? help? :(
ellie
February 13, 2010 at 12:23 pmi usually photocopy my images the same day that i burn the screen. the photocopy will stick to the screen, but i’ve never had a problem with the paper not coming off. sometimes the burned screen does look odd, but the ink still pulls through. did you try printing with the screen anyway? is the photocopy paper unusually thin? i’ve heard (but haven’t tried this) that if you rub chalk dust on your master with a cotton ball before you burn the screen, it can help evenly distribute the carbon from the photocopy. maybe there is too much carbon in some places on your photocopy? have you tried a different photocopier?
erin
February 13, 2010 at 12:30 pmthank you for the quick response! i’m beating my head against the wall here because i’ve committed to gocco-ing some wedding invitations for a client and i really need to get this figured out.
i did actually print some pages just to see. the stripes that I described actually didn’t hurt the print out. the places where the paper stuck didn’t print out (as expected) but my REAL problem now seems to be that when i pull the inked paper slowly off the screen, you can see where the ink has been pulled and raised. does that make sense? it just does have a clean smooth finish like i see other gocco prints have. do you have any idea how to fix that? is is just a situation where i’ll have to print small objects or lines rather than big images with lots of filled in ink?
erin
February 13, 2010 at 12:32 pmsorry! couple of typos at the end of that post! let me try again:
it just does NOT have a clean smooth finish like i see other gocco prints have. do you have any idea how to fix that? is it just a situation where i’ll have to print small objects or lines rather than big images with lots of filled in ink?
ellie
February 13, 2010 at 12:39 pmhaving a large solid area with evenly coated ink is tricky with any kind of printmaking, but i think the problem you’re describing is just because you haven’t pulled many prints yet. Sometimes it takes 10+ prints before you get even ink coverage. you also might be using too much ink?
erin
February 13, 2010 at 1:07 pmthank you for all your tips! i feel like i’m getting nowhere though. i’m going to try using less ink and see what happens. every tutorial i’ve read says “glob it on!” . . . but i’ll give less ink a shot.
ellie
February 13, 2010 at 1:11 pmI do glob it on at first, but eventually you should end up with a really even layer and just have to touch up small spots on the screen as you go. but raised ink in places is definitely an ink coverage issue… you’ll get there! good luck!
erin
February 13, 2010 at 1:53 pmthank you!
Teresa
July 1, 2010 at 11:59 amI have a Print Gooco B5. Can I use Hi-mesh screens for B6 in my Gocco? I don’t seem to see any mesh screens for B5s for sale.
ellie
July 1, 2010 at 12:55 pmHi Teresa,
No, the B5 is bigger than the B6. There are B5 screens available here:
http://www.diyprintsupply.com/gocco-screen-masters.aspx
Ellie
Joyce
July 6, 2010 at 5:38 pmVery new. Am scared to try copies from Kinkos or my laser printer. Thinking of tracing design wi carbon pen– does a carbon pencil work by any chance. Do you think trying to burn off tracing paper drawn wi Riso carbon pen will be a problem?
ellie
July 6, 2010 at 5:42 pmHi Joyce,
I actually haven’t tried anything except copies, sorry I can’t be of help on this one! If you have trouble with it, you can always draw with any black pen on white paper and then photocopy it…
Maartje
July 24, 2010 at 3:54 pmHi! I’ve been making gocco prints succesfully using the riso pen, but the one I did with a photocopy didn’t work. The print wouldn’t burn correctly into the screen; some parts did, some parts didn’t. And with the blue screen was worse than without. Do you know of some copiers not using carbon? And have you tried it with laser prints? I’m hesitant to experiment with this, because every time it’s a ruined screen and wasted bulbs. Thanks for your help!
ellie
July 24, 2010 at 4:20 pmHi, yes, some photocopiers don’t have enough carbon in them to work with the gocco. I haven’t had that happen (kinko’s has been reliable for me), but I have heard of that. Hope you get it straightened out soon; how frustrating!
Sophie
August 5, 2010 at 12:15 amHi! I really hope that you can help me… I just got my Gocco and I am SO disappointed. I am using a photocopy with the blue filter and my screens are not burning AT ALL. I have already wasted 3 screens and 6 bulbs and can’t bring myself to waste more without knowing what’s wrong. I have been combing the internet looking for answers, this isn’t fun anymore. Basically the bulbs fire, and I open the Gocco and nothing is there. Should I order new bulbs? Are the bulbs not strong enough? Can the screens be exposed more than once? I’m losing my mind!!! :(
Maartje
August 5, 2010 at 3:04 am@Ellie Thanks for your answer. No kinkos in Amsterdam so I’ll have to look for other, maybe older machines. @Sophie I had the same problem. You van use the screen again so you havent lost them, but I’ve wasted some bulbs just like you. I think there’s not enough carbon in the copiers we’re using. Leaving out the blue screen helps, but if possible trace your prints with the goccopen. Only thing that works for me. Good luck!
Sophie
August 5, 2010 at 2:41 pmThanks Maartje- I just talked to a kinkos person who says that their kinkos printers are going to be replaced next month! Kinkos copiers are the only copiers that I have heard have enough carbon. I haven’t tried a kinkos copy yet, but I’m hoping that you’re right about the carbon and that’s the problem. Except I can’t hand letter all these- does anyone know of carbon inks you can buy?
Maartje
August 18, 2010 at 3:11 amHi Sophie and Ellie, just wanted to let you know I tried making a master with an inkjet print and it worked perfectly! Best masters up to now. I have a HP C6380 printer. Apparantly you need Vivera ink. My cartridges don’t mention this, but it works. Other printers work as well. There’s a list on the gocco yahoogroups. Maybe this will work for you.
ellie
August 18, 2010 at 8:48 amThanks Maartje!
Sophie
August 18, 2010 at 5:38 pmThanks so much Maartje! This may be overkill, but is there any way you can link me to the exact ink cartridges you use for your printer? Thinking about getting one and just want to check on availability. Thanks again!
Maartje
August 19, 2010 at 3:47 amHi Sophie, the HP C6380 use cartridges 364 (or 364 XL, for better value), in magenta, yellow, blue, black and photoblack. Their availability here in Amsterdam, or online, is fine. Also other HP printers work, but not sure which (see gocco printers group on Yahoo). I’m very happy with the quality of my printer. Only downside is it runs out of ink pretty fast, and the cartridges aren’t cheap. Good luck!
Mona
November 24, 2010 at 8:25 pmcan you use ink other than gocco ink?
Mona
November 24, 2010 at 8:26 pmcan i use ink other than gocco ink?
ellie
November 24, 2010 at 10:00 pmHi Mona,
I haven’t had any luck with other inks, but you could look at these links:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/gocco/discuss/72157603946476884/?search=paint
http://www.flickr.com/groups/gocco/discuss/72157600823348510/?search=paint
http://www.flickr.com/groups/gocco/discuss/72157594427435061/?search=paint
found via: http://www.etsy.com.au/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5498997
Mr Rogers
May 31, 2011 at 12:46 am@erin – from feb last year
I know it’s late, but we just ran into the same problem with a design that had large flat areas of color. The paper stuck to the emulsion and ripped as we pulled the paper off (right after the exposure). With some care, we peeled off as much of the paper as we could. Then we carefully scrubbed the rest out with a wet paper towel. In the end, the screen came out just fine – just took a little extra elbow grease. Hope this helps (even though it’s really late).
Sarah
April 16, 2012 at 6:47 pmHello,
I’m new to Gocco but very excited to try it out. Have you tried any alternative flashbulbs? If so– what size did you use?
Thanks in advance. :) And thank you for this post. It was very helpful.
ellie
April 16, 2012 at 7:36 pmHi Sarah, I haven’t tried any alternatives, sorry! If you do I’d love to hear about it!