We provide high-quality work at fair prices with fair wages because we can. The truth is the material cost for producers has not increased commensurate with consumer-facing price increases, ie: the cost of making t-shirts has not gone up as nearly as much as the price that you are being charged for them has. That’s in part because of outsourcing, where multiple entities extract profit from a single order.

We never outsource. We are focused on personal and ethical collaboration with local businesses, artists, and trades. All of our printing is done by unionized Opaque Collective members and member-owners. 

We pay a living wage. All of our printers and apprentices are proud members of CWA Local 6300. When you work with us, you can be assured that your final product will have been ethically made by a skilled craftsman who is paid fairly. Our collective model keeps overhead cost low, and our pay structure ensures that the majority of profit for every job goes to the operator.

Opaque is more than a printshop. We are a collective of artists, organizers, and dreamers who love our city and neighborhood. We strive to contribute to our physical and cultural communities, and want to preserve the punk, DIY ethic that got us where we are today. When you have a skill, you can find others to collaborate, combine resources, and DO IT TOGETHER! That is what we do with Opaque.

Our gallery space hosts events and openings curated by the collective. We also provide space and opportunities for local independent artists to engage their own DIY ethic. This includes workshops, digital printing for zines, photography, posters, fliers, and more.