Frequently asked questions:

HOW DO I BORROW EQUIPMENT AT VCA & MCM? Refer to the Equipment Loans section below and follow the instructions.

HOW LONG CAN I BORROW EQUIPMENT FOR? Most equipment is available for 48 hours only. Some equipment such as projectors may be available for longer. Check with the Equipment Storeroom staff for more details.

IS THERE A LIST OF AVAILABLE EQUIPMENT? Yes. You can view the equipment via the CHEQROOM app once you have created an account - see the instructions below in the Equipment Loans section.

HOW MUCH DO PRINTS COST? Refer to the Digital Printing section below!

HOW DO I SET UP FILES FOR PRINTING? General specifications for print file setup can be found below in the Fine Art Digital Printing section.

WHAT PAPERS ARE DIGITAL PRINTS PRINTED ON? The Digital Print Studio offers standard plain paper for plan prints, Epson Enhanced Matte paper for standard inkjet prints and Canson or Hahnemuehle cotton rag archival papers for high-end/fine art printing. Transparency film prints are also available. Prints are made with pigment based inks, dedicated printer rip software and custom media profiles through either an Epson P9560, Epson  P5070 or an Epson P800.

CAN I PRINT ON ACETATE? Yes! But only via the Digital Print Studio. Acetate materials are not permitted in other printers on campus. Refer to the Fine Art Printing section below for more details.

CAN I PRINT ON OTHER PAPERS? It is (generally) not possible to print on your own paper. Printing on uncoated papers can leave ink residue inside the printer along with paper fibres that block the print heads. This requires time-consuming cleaning and servicing to be performed. Also colour accuracy cannot be guaranteed as the paper will not be appropriately profiled for the printers. HOWEVER printing on coated inkjet paper may be possible so please feel free to ask!

WILL MY PRINT FILE GET PRINTED IF I HAVEN’T PAID FOR IT AND/OR CAN I PAY LATER? No. Print files are only processed once payment is received.

DO I NEED A HARD DRIVE? Yes! You cannot permanently store files on the Digital Studios computers. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BACK UP AND STORE YOUR DIGITAL FILES. Alternatively you can use cloud storage services such as OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud etc however this option can be problematic for video production applications and other processes that produce large files. Contact fineartsmusic-digital@unimelb.edu.au if you have any specific questions regarding the storage of your data.

CAN I BOOK A TECHNICIAN FOR ASSISTANCE? Yes! See the Technical Staff section below.

CAN THE DIGITAL PRINT STUDIO TECHNICIAN TEACH ME HOW TO USE PHOTOSHOP ETC? No unfortunately DPS staff are not available to teach software one-to-one. Speak to your academic supervisor or coordinator for information on classes, inductions and tutorials. Links to various online tutorials can be found toward the bottom of this page.

CAN I ACCESS SOFTWARE SUCH AS ADOBE CC FOR FREE TO USE ON MY OWN COMPUTER? Unfortunately the faculty cannot provide free access to applications such as Adobe CC, Final Cut Pro, Sibelius etc. However access to Serif's Affinity Suite has been recently made possible through the University's Student IT Portal - full details are below. Reduced EDU pricing and extended trial periods are available on other titles and software is free to use in all the Digital Studios located on the Southbank campus. See below for more info or contact fineartsmusic-digital@unimelb.edu.au for specific advice.

WHAT IF I HAVE A QUESTION THAT’S NOT LISTED ON THIS PAGE? Feel free to email fineartsmusic-digital@unimelb.edu.au for more information.

Please do not contact the finearts-music@unimelb.edu.au email address for assistance with equipment loans. Refer to the equipment loans section below.

Equipment loans

MCM MUSIC STOREROOM

The MCM Music Storeroom contains music related items that can be borrowed by students and staff. Technical staff can also be booked for technical assistance in relation to projects, assignments, tutorials or equipment. To be eligible to borrow items you must first sign up to the Cheqroom loan system:

Register for Music Equipment Loans (Cheqroom)

Instructions on how to use the Cheqroom app along with download links can be found below.

The MCM Music Equipment Store operates by appointment only:

Book an appointment at the Music Storeroom

View the storeroom location on the Campus Maps

ALL SCHOOL LOANS

The All School Loans Storeroom contains visual art related equipment (cameras, projectors, lighting etc) that can be reserved & borrowed by students and staff with an active Cheqroom account

ALL SCHOOL LOAN TIMES

10:00 am - 11:00 am Monday to Friday
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Monday to Friday

To be eligible to borrow items you must first sign up to the Cheqroom loan system:

Register for All School Equipment Loans (Cheqroom)

View the ASL Storeroom location on Campus Maps

ART STUDIO LOANS

The Art School Loans Storeroom contains visual art related equipment (flatscreen monitors, drills, easels, plinths) that can be reserved & borrowed by students and staff with an active Cheqroom account.

ART STUDIO LOAN TIMES

10:00 am - 11:00 am Monday to Friday
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Monday to Friday

Please note that this equipment can only be borrowed for use ON CAMPUS. To be eligible to borrow items you must first sign up to the Cheqroom loan system:

Register for All School Equipment Loans (Cheqroom)

View the Art Studio Loans location on Campus Maps

PLEASE NOTE

• All reservations must be made via the CHEQROOM app. No phone or email bookings will be processed.
• Only the equipment listed in the CHEQROOM app is available for loan, other specific requests cannot be accommodated at this time.

Cheqroom

Cheqroom is the online equipment reservation system/app used by the various equipment loan areas. To reserve equipment you must first register for a Cheqroom account:

Please note: Online Cheqroom registration is available during teaching periods only. If you require a Cheqroom account registration outside of regular teaching periods (during University holidays) please visit the relevant storeroom in person for assistance.

Click here to register for equipment loans (Cheqroom)

You will receive an email inviting you to create an account. PLEASE DO NOT CREATE AN ACCOUNT VIA THE CHEQROOM WEBSITE. USE THE LINK PROVIDED IN THE INVITATION EMAIL ONLY.

After your account is created please download the Cheqroom app to begin reserving equipment:

Download Cheqroom app for iOS

Download Cheqroom app for Android

Instructions on how to use the Cheqroom app:

How to use the Cheqroom mobile app

How to reserve equipment using the Cheqroom mobile app

How to change storeroom locations in cheqroom if you have requested access to more than one equipment storeroom:

How to change storeroom locations within the Cheqroom mobile app

All reservations must be made via the Cheqroom app. No phone or email bookings will be processed.

Digital studios (computer labs)

Access to computers and software is possible at three main locations across the Southbank Campus. See below for details, availability and location:

Please note this information is subject to change, check frequently for changes and updates.

Staff looking for detailed information on software installation & availability and to also log requests please click HERE. Please note that this link is for staff use only (Staff Portal login required)

Student IT

For assistance with WiFi, VPN, user accounts and passwords, email, MyUni Apps, document printing and other IT related enquiries visit https://studentit.unimelb.edu.au

Looking for Staff IT support or using a University-owned device? If you require assistance with your staff account or university-owned device please call the Service Centre on (03) 8344 0888 for support.

myUniApps

myUniApps provides students with secure and free access to general-use and faculty-specific software, streamed online from University servers. Provided you have a web browser and an internet connection, you can use MATLAB, ArcGIS, SPSS, EViews, RStudio, SAS, and much more, from anywhere.

Affinity Suite

Affinity is a suite of software from Serif that is used for photo editing, graphic design and page layout. Affinity is available to all University of Melbourne staff and students to use on University owned and personal computers.

Affinity Photo 2 – photo editing and raster painting.
Affinity Designer 2 – vector graphic design and illustration.
Affinity Publisher 2 – page layout software boasting StudioLink, a unique way of using the editing tools from the two other Affinity products.

For more information visit https://studentit.unimelb.edu.au/software/affinity

Zoom

Zoom is the University preferred video conferencing/live streaming application. For everything regarding Zoom visit https://www.unimelb.edu.au/zoom

Visual art technical staff

Follow the links below to make an appointment with staff for advice and assistance:

Art and Design Workshop Lead

Mark Friedlander

Art Studios and Breadth Lead

Jess Milne

VCA Workshop Coordinator

Yvette James

Printmaking Workshop Coordinator

Adrian Kellett

Photography Workshop Coordinator

Nina Gilbert

Technical Coordinator - Photography and AV

Aaron Rees

Workshop Coordinator - Sculpture

Julien Comer-Kleine

Technical Coordinator - Painting

Darren Munce

Technical Coordinator - Drawing & Printmaking

Zamara Robison

Technical  Coordinator - Honours and Breadth

Naoise Halloran-Mackay

Art Studio Technicians

Sam George

Yuho Imura

Indi Jennings

GCVA (Graduate Certificate in Visual Art) Technician

Ben Storch

Stock Shops

Stock Shop Tech

Stock Shop (Duraan Reid)

Fine art digital printing

PLEASE NOTE : The Digital Print Studio is now closed for the semester break and is available by appointment only. The studio will reopen on Monday 20th July 2026.

Fine Art digital printing is available on MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY (during teaching periods only). Orders placed BEFORE 10:00 am will be available for collection later the same day.*

Orders placed AFTER 10:00 am and on Friday, Saturday or Sunday will be printed on MONDAY (during teaching periods).

Large print runs may require more time so please contact the Digital Print Studio at fineartsmusic-digital@unimelb.edu.au to confirm the current turnaround time. If you require printing urgently please confirm a time in advance either by email or by using the booking page below.

Students are welcome to stop by the studio in person Mon-Thurs between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm with any enquiries. Please note that staff are on break between 12:30 and 1:30 pm and also work elsewhere on campus so booking a time is recommended:

Book a consultation at the Digital Print Studio

PLEASE NOTE THIS SERVICE IS FOR PRINTING ARTWORKS. For general document printing such as Word documents, exhibition posters & promotional material etc please use the Unimelb Student Print system. These facilities are available in the Library (Building 863) Southbank.

*The Digital Print Studio is operated by one person and delays may occur due to unforeseen circumstances. Please check above information carefully and plan ahead to ensure your work is printed well in advance of your required deadline. Any upcoming closures or disruptions will be listed above.

Order fine art digital prints (STEP 1/3)

STEP 1 - Prepare your files using these specifications as a guide:

NOTE: Borderless printing is available up to A2 (sheet) only. Prints LARGER than A2 cannot be printed without a 1-2 cm border (depending on roll size) and will technically be slightly smaller than ISO size.

Borderless prints are not possible on transparency film. All transparent film prints are made with a 1cm border by with crop marks by default.

PLEASE ALSO NOTE: If you have requested a borderless print (A4, A3, A2) and your image is not sized to the exact dimensions/shape of the paper then it will only be borderless on two sides. Generally an image made with a camera is not the same shape as a standard piece of paper. It is your responsibility to ensure the image is sized correctly to fit the dimensions of the paper (A4, A3, A2) and allow for a 3mm crop on all sides to cover the required overprinting.

BORDERLESS PRINTING IS AVAILABLE ON SHEETS UP TO A2 ONLY. If you require a ISO A1 or A0 borderless print it may be necessary to order/print the next size up and trim your print to size (particularly if crop marks are required). Please check with the print studio staff to confirm ahead of placing your order.

ALL FILES WILL BE PRINTED AS SUBMITTED. If you require a specific border please include it in the file. If a border is not present and not labelled for borderless printing the image will be printed 'fit to page' with a default 1-2 cm border (depending on paper size). The image will be resized to fit either the length or width of the paper and will include a 1-2 cm border.

If you require assistance or have any questions regarding print setup (a specific border, cropping or registration marks, printing for a readymade frame etc) please consider making an appointment before ordering to discuss and confirm your requirements.

Order fine art digital prints (STEP 2/3)

STEP 2 - Click on the links below to select your paper & print size. Place your order then return to this page to upload your files:

PRINTS ORDERED ON FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY WILL BE PRINTED ON MONDAY.

EPSON ENHANCED MATTE PAPER PIGMENT PRINTS (SINGLE-SIDED):

A4 EPSON MATTE

A3 EPSON MATTE

A2 EPSON MATTE

A1 EPSON MATTE

110cm x 80cm EPSON MATTE

If you require a ISO A0 size print (118cm x 84cm) OR a custom length please order here:

44" Custom length EPSON MATTE (110cm x CUSTOM length)

24" Custom length EPSON MATTE (58cm x CUSTOM length)

PLEASE NOTE: Borderless printing is available up to A2 only. Prints LARGER than A2 cannot be printed without a minimum 1.5 cm border and will technically be slightly smaller than ISO size. If you require a borderless print A1 or larger YOU WILL NEED TO TRIM THE BORDER OFF. Please consider this when sizing your image for print.

Unfortunately the Print Studio cannot offer assistance in trimming or mounting prints. If you have any questions about print finishing please enquire with the studio staff.

TRANSPARENT FILM PRINTS:

Please note there has been a recent price increase in transparency prints due to an unavoidable change in the required materials. The previous transparent media is no longer manufactured and the equivelent replacement is considerably more expensive. However the new material is completely clear compared to the cloudy/slightly opaque quality of the previous media. Please contact the studio with any further questions.

A2 TRANSPARENT FILM (60 cm wide roll)

60 CM WIDE x CUSTOM LENGTH TRANSPARENT FILM

10x15cm (For Photopolymer Printing) 

PLEASE NOTE: Borderless printing is NOT available on transparent prints (all sizes). A default border of 1cm is placed on all transparent prints along with crop marks to assist with trimming (excluding A2 size).

ARCHIVAL PIGMENT INKJET PRINTS (SINGLE-SIDED):

Canson Rag Photographique (smooth rag matte archival 310 gsm)
Canson Platine (semi-gloss archival 310 gsm)

A3 CANSON ARCHIVAL PRINT

A2 CANSON ARCHIVAL PRINT

A1 CANSON ARCHIVAL PRINT

24" (60 cm wide) CANSON ARCHIVAL PRINT

44" (110 cm wide) CANSON ARCHIVAL PRINT

Hahnemühle Photo Rag (smooth rag matte archival 308 gsm)

A3 HAHNEMUHLE ARCHIVAL PRINT

A2 HAHNEMUHLE ARCHIVAL PRINT

A1 HAHNEMUHLE ARCHIVAL PRINT

24" HAHNEMUHLE ARCHIVAL PRINT

44" HAHNEMUHLE ARCHIVAL PRINT

Canson Photogloss RC (gloss RC paper 270 gsm)

A2 CANSON GLOSS PRINT

A1 CANSON GLOSS PRINT

24" CANSON GLOSS PRINT

44" CANSON GLOSS PRINT

PLEASE NOTE: Borderless printing is available up to A2 (sheet) only. Prints LARGER than A2 cannot be printed without a 1-2 cm border (depending on roll size) and will technically be slightly smaller than ISO size.

Order fine art digital prints (STEP 3/3)

STEP 3 - Upload your print files to the appropriate Dropbox folders below (a Dropbox account is NOT required to upload your files)

FILES UPLOADED WITHOUT PAYMENT WILL NOT BE PRINTED.

PRINTS ORDERED ON FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY WILL BE PRINTED ON MONDAY.

UPLOAD FOR EPSON ENHANCED MATTE PAPER

UPLOAD FOR CANSON MATTE ARCHIVAL

UPLOAD FOR CANSON SEMI-GLOSS ARCHIVAL

UPLOAD FOR CANSON PHOTOGLOSS RC

UPLOAD FOR HANHEMUHLE MATTE ARCHIVAL

UPLOAD FOR TRANSPARENCY FILM

It is (generally) not possible to print on your own paper. Printing on uncoated papers can leave ink residue inside the printer along with paper fibres that block the print heads. This requires time-consuming cleaning and servicing to be performed. Also colour accuracy cannot be guaranteed as the paper will not be appropriately profiled for the printers. HOWEVER printing on coated inkjet paper may be possible so please feel free to ask!

PLAN PRINTING (Production dept only)

THIS SERVICE IS FOR PRODUCTION STUDENTS AND STAFF ONLY. FILES UPLOADED FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS WILL NOT BE PROCESSED.

Files uploaded BEFORE 10:00 am will be available for collection later the same day.**

Files uploaded AFTER 10:00 am Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday will be printed on MONDAY (during teaching periods).

THIS SERVICE IS AVAILABLE MONDAY TO THURSDAY. FILES UPLOADED ON FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY WILL PRINTED ON MONDAY.

PLAN PRINTING IS AVAILABLE IN A2, A1 & A0 SIZES ONLY. FOR PRINTS A3 AND A4 PLEASE USE UNIMELB STUDENT PRINT (LIBRARY PHOTOCOPIERS)

THIS SERVICE IS FOR PRODUCTION STUDENTS AND STAFF ONLY. FILES THAT ARE NOT PLAN PRINTS WILL NOT BE PRINTED. PLEASE REFER TO THE FINE ART PRINTING SECTION ABOVE IF YOU NEED TO PRINT CONTINUOUS TONE IMAGES/PHOTOS ETC.

Upload a PLAN PRINT for an authorised production (no payment required)*

*Please confirm by email (fineartsmusic-digital@unimelb.edu.au) that you have uploaded a PLAN PRINT FILE so a collection notification can be sent to you. Dropbox does not send your email address through to the print studio automatically therefore a notification cannot be sent to you.

PLEASE NOTE: The Digital Print Studio is operated by one person and interruptions/delays may occur due to unforeseen circumstances. Please check above information carefully and plan ahead to ensure your work is printed by your required deadline. Any upcoming closures or disruptions will be listed here.

Print pickup

You will receive an email notification with instructions on how to collect your printing once the job has been completed. The Digital Print Studio is located here:

View the Print Studio location on Campus Maps

DIY inkjet printing

Do-It-Yourself digital printing is now available in R137c B874. Here you can experiment printing your own digital files (up to A3.) Payment covers both the ink and paper and is priced the same as the Digital Print Studio prints of the same size.*

*There are technical differences in the prints from the two locations - the Digital Print Studio utilises high-end colour management and specialised printer software to guarantee colour accuracy. The printers located in Room 137c operate via Photoshop with basic general colour management and print options. Please note that only specific papers can be used with this printer and any other materials will cause damage to the machine - acetate, uncoated rag paper, cardboard, foils etc.

Purchase A3 EPSON MATTE paper for DIY printing

Purchase A3 ILFORD SMOOTH PEARL paper for DIY printing

Film scanning

High Dynamic Range (HDR) scans via an Imacon Flextight Film Scanner. Supported film formats include: 35mm, 120 (medium format) and 4x5 (large format). Booking is required in order to ensure that staff are available to complete the scans for you. The film scanner is located in the Digital Print Studio and is only available via booking (link below).

*Please note that due to the sensitive mechanics of the film scanner hardware and the increasingly limited availability of spare parts the scanner will now be operated by staff only. Bookings are to be made directly with Andrew McLaughlin in the Digital Print Studio and he will meet with you to discuss your scanning requirements.

For questions and bookings contact fineartsmusic-digital@unimelb.edu.au or book a consultation.

View the Digital Hub & Print Studio location on Campus Maps

3D printing

Telstra Creator Space is a digital and electronics maker space facility located at Parkville within the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology. This resource is open to all University of Melbourne students. Access to the space is arranged via the Creator Space Portal however prior to your first visit you are required to complete three online modules.

Telstra Creator Space offers free 3D printing using PLA material. All students are welcome however subjects supported by TCS (who have engaged with TCS prior to semester start) and Capstones have priority printing. Research projects and other programs from across the University also have priority access. Personal projects are welcome however turnaround times are longer as they are generally printed outside of teaching periods.

Facilities can be accessed after the initial training is completed with other areas requiring you to build skills and demonstrate competency. The TCS facilities can also be accessed by arrangement with the specially trained staff. Facilities currently include: laser cutters (for MDF and acrylic), electronics equipment & soldering stations, CNC cutters, a woodworking room, metalworking room and a general maker space. There is also metal machining equipment for more advanced metalworking processes. More information can be found here.

Tutorials

Looking for software basics? Follow the links below to access online tutorials and resources:

Affinity Suite

Photoshop

InDesign

Illustrator

Davinci Resolve

Final Cut Pro

Premiere

Ableton Live

Logic Pro

Rhino

Blender