LETTERPRESS 101 : technical letterpress
This is an almost inconceivable example in today’s world of hand set, metal type composition from 1927. It was produced by a student in the LABORATORY PRESS at Carnegie Institute of Technology.
THIS INTRODUCES YOU to the traditional techniques used in hand-set composition using antique metal & wood type, plus printing your result on the tabletop platen press. If you are interested in acquiring a small press for a limited space, or if you simply want to try your hand at letterpress basics, this is a good starting point.
As you fill up your composing stick with lines of handset type, you unload it into a metal tray (called a galley) before inking it up and pulling a proof to check for errors.
Tap into your inner Zen mode and give up the digital world for a day. The touch of individual antique wood and metal letters gives you creative ideas you'll never get while working on a computer. And pulling the lever of one of these little presses earns you a thrilling Aha! moment as you make your first print.
For 3 to 6 people, age 12 or better
$120 each
6 working hours plus lunch
All materials provided
Completing this workshop gives you access to Workspace Rental and Table Top Press Rental
Current workshop calendar, or email us to request a date.
Wear comfortable shoes and work clothing. Dress for the weather: we are not air-conditioned and in winter much of the heat rises to the top of our 20-foot ceiling. Bring questions, your camera, and a notebook to record your process.
Just your type
IT'S HARD TO EXPRESS THE SATISFACTION of hand setting type in the same manner that would be familiar to Ben Franklin, America's most famous colonial printer. The act of handling each individual letter, each piece of punctuation, each decorative printer's ornament, and each and every piece of spacing makes you slow down and consider the importance, positioning, and spelling of every word in your composing stick.
Above is a typical organizational layout for a common type case known as a California job case. Across the globe, there are about 300 versions of this layout.
There are a lot of important history and everyday expressions you hear that trace their origins back to this old-school art. If nothing else, by the end of the day, you will discover that words have weight.
Meet the press
THINK SMALL when using these tabletop platen presses. At a nominal chase size of 6" x 9," these little hand-cranked machines give you the best results for a maximum printing area of about 20 square inches. This workshop focuses on handset type, but printing from photopolymer plates is also possible, as is the use of linocuts and copperplates.
The diminutive size of these presses means they aren't suitable for Lead Graffiti's typical work for clients, but it does make them all the more charming and inviting for the beginner or hobbyist. They fit into a compact space and are relatively easy to move. And they only print as fast as you can pull the lever.
Completing this technical workshop gives you rental access (noted above) to studio time to work on personal projects using our tabletop presses and associated tools & equipment used in the workshop and access to our considerable collection of wood & metal type. While you must supply your paper and printing plates, a reasonable amount of ink will be provided.
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Hand setting a type specimen sheet is one way to get to know a type style and the case layout. The 3 quaint Megill spring tongue gauge pins shown here are quite effective for aligning paper in this tabletop press
Typical projects
WHILE THE PRINTING AREA MAY BE SMALL, the range of projects is only limited by your imagination.
stationery ensembles & business cards,
party invitations & other announcements,
post cards, greeting cards & note cards,
small handbills
calendars
bookmarks, bookplates, certificates & keepsakes
paper bags & envelopes
miniature, limited-edition books
labels & coasters
Topics covered
START YOUR WORKSHOP with a tour of the studio and examine some pieces of work up close to familiarize yourself with techniques and options. As you set type and engage the press, you will cover:
the layout of the California job case
using a composing stick
hand setting wood & metal type using leading & spacing materials
type proofing & correcting
locking up the form in a chase using type furniture and quoins
press makeready, packing & inking
printing & image quality
press clean up & redistributing type
resources for paper, printing supplies & equipment, and online discussion groups and promotional blogs
AND WHEN YOU ARE AT LEAD GRAFFITI, be sure we show you that piece of student work at the top. There is so much more to it that you cannot see that is truly astounding. If you are intrigued, here are two blog entries: Laboratory Press : metal type composition the old-fashioned way: Laboratory Press Projet No. 43 added to collection.