Letterpress Workshops

Experience firsthand about wood and metal type, using the tools and techniques involved with letterpress printing. Our letterpress workshops range from setting type by hand in our metal type composition workshop to printing on all sizes of hand-operated and motorized presses. We also will show how to utilize the computer to produce photopolymer and metal plates.

Metal type composition

Learn to set metal type the classic way in this type composition workshop. Includes type proofing and correcting, inking and making prints on the tabletop press. Read more

no prerequisite

Vandercook SP-15 (handcranked)

Add to your type compostion skills from Letterpress 1 and print bigger items up to 15" x 20" on the Vandercook SP-15. Includes working with wood & metal type, using furniture and quoins, registration, inking and printing. Read more

Prerequisite: Letterpress 1: metal type composition

Vandercook Universal III (automatic)

Print posters, poetry broadsides, or books on this automated press. Includes using the manual, cycle and run options, working with speed, braking, and delay adjustments, registration, inking and printing. Read more

Prerequisites: Letterpress 1: metal type composition AND Letterpress 2: Vandercook SP-15

Chandler & Price 10 x 15 (motorized)

Learn how to print on the C&P platen press and work in large editions to create one-of-a-kind cards and keepsakes. Includes press safety, locking up the form, inking, press makeready and hand feeding. Read more

Prerequisites: Letterpress 1: metal type composition AND Letterpress 2: Vandercook SP-15

The iron handpress (future offering)

Get in touch with historical printing techniques. Our 1869 Hoe Washington #5 and 1890 Albion iron handpresses have a printing area of up to 25" x 38." Includes press safety, printing of large wood cuts / linoleum block cuts and multi-page book imposition. Read more

Workshops