Room 31, Kresge Art Center

Staffed Hours: Sunday 2pm-6pm, Monday-Thursday 9:30am-8pm, Friday 10am-2pm

Contact: Alex Nichols, nicho135@msu.edu, (517) 884-0706

The Visual Resources and Print Lab (VRPL) provides a variety of technology services, facilities, and equipment in support of teaching, learning, and research.  This is the place to go for printing, borrowing audiovisual equipment, technical support for classroom computers, and general help with art and design technology.  The lab includes several workstations with the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, scanners (reflective and transparency), printers, paper cutters, and working space for matting/mounting/trimming.

Printing Services

VRPL online store

You can use the online store to check prices and see what types of prints are available, as well as to order prints and pay with a credit card.  After paying, you can submit print files to VRPL@msu.edu via FileDepot (https://filedepot.msu.edu).  Prints ordered online will typically be finished within 1 business day.

Printing is available in the VRPL to all Department of Art, Art History, and Design faculty and students during staffed hours.  We offer color laser printing up to 11×17 inches, and archival pigment-based inkjet printing up to 44 inches wide, on a variety of paper types, including matte, semimatte, luster, glossy, translucent vellum, canvas, clear plastic film, adhesive sticker paper, and plain copy paper.  We have three different types of bookbinding available: wire, saddle stitch/stapled, or perfect/glue binding.  We also have a 3D printer with a maximum build volume of 12x12x24 inches, and an assortment of filament types.  If you want to print with something we don’t normally stock, you can bring in your own paper or 3D filament (check for compatibility with our machines first).

Computer Labs

Two computer labs are available to students enrolled in the Department of Art, Art History, and Design courses. These labs are equipped with design, photo, and motion graphics software, as well as scanners (both reflective and transparency), and laser printers. If you are enrolled in a course within the Department of Art, Art History, and Design , and would like to request key card access to these labs, please complete the Computer Lab Access Request Form.

Equipment Checkout

Current students and faculty in the Department of Art, Art History, and Design may check out AV equipment for up to 2 days at a time.  Students must be currently enrolled in at least one AAHD course (STA, GD, ATD, or HA) to borrow equipment.  Available items include DSLR cameras, lenses, flashes, light kits, tripods, projectors, multimedia players, headphones, speakers, audio recorders, microphones, and other assorted accessories and attachments.

Madison Digital Image Database

You can access MDID at mdid.art.msu.edu

The Madison Digital Image Database (originally developed and distributed by James Madison University) is an open source web application which functions to manage, share, present, and organize digital image collections. The Michigan State University MDID installation contains a collection of more than 80,000 images and videos, based on faculty requests in support of instruction and research.  The collection covers a wide variety of art and design content, across a wide range of subjects, media, history, and geography.  Documentation of past student work, guest lectures, performances, and other media of local interest are also included.