Are you making a good impression!

I've been having a good read through the archives of Poppy Letterpress's blog who started out on an Adana 5x8 back in 2007 in Aussie, god we are so far behind in the UK! Everyone who started off then on a small press has moved up to bigger platen press which was making me feel a little apprehensive about my 5x8 :( Poppy lasted 3 months before she moved onto a new press but she printed her wedding invites (above) on the Adana, I'll be happy when I manage to get the same results on mine ;) Anyway it's worth reading her first 3 months, if your a newbie like me, as she records all her ups and downs of the early days of beginner at letterpress!

My printing has been put on the back burner for a week or so as I've been roped into making all the scenery for youngest son's model railway layout, for his 4th birthday, daddy's idea! Hmmm just who is this present meant to be for... my other half has turned into a big kid with a new toy :)

Printing with large wood type or large areas of solid colour on a table top press

click on pic for closeup of paper

I ordered some pre-scored cards from Eco-craft so I've been a doing a bit of practise printing while I wait for my spacing for my 100s of wooden letters. The "!" needs some make ready but I got great results on some 300g White Straw 100% recycled (waste straw clippings cut in the South East of the UK) also available in cream, it's a lovely, soft and puffy card that will give a fairly deep impression if you want one. The size of the type was 10 line which in metal letter terms is 120pt!!! 12pt = 1 line, wooden type is measured in lines and metal in points. (I've got an old type scale for this otherwise I wouldn't have a clue!)
The guy at the back is an old engraving I found in my cabinet but I need some really good smooth paper to get a good print!

TIPS FOR PRINTING WITH WOODEN LETTERS & SOLID COLOURS

Yup! I had to start printing with the hardest thing, wood letters, especially on a small press! Here's s few tips to use on a small hand press for printing large areas of colour.

• Double ink your form before you print.
• Overprint, do a double impression, but make sure it doesn't go out of registration.
• Don't try and print too much at once, a 1/2 or max 1/3 of the size of your chase is the recommend printable area on a platen press.
• Split up your text (landscape) to the depth of your circumference of your rollers, then you won't get a ghosting effect. Same goes for plates too.
• Use softer packing.
• Dampening paper (read Brier press discussions)

Letterpress SWISS Packing

For my packing on the press I was so confused with all the info on the net and where to get it from so I decided to try Swiss Packing from Happy Dragon Press. All the info is on their website but it basically consists of a top sheet of fogged x-ray film which can be used for several jobs and a bottom sheet of second-hand litho blanket, for the in between use whatever if right for the job, 2 or 3 sheets of hard (eg tracing paper) for metal or soft (eg. newspaper, blotting) for wood, nylo or lino cuts. The packing is designed to resist wear on your type and press!

My packing arrived accompanied by a lovely letterpressed newsletter and list of display faces they have for loan, plus some notes for using my packing. They are really helpful and if your having any problems they'll be happy to give you some advice.

I've done some experimenting which I'll post shortly and anybody out there tried any other packing techniques let me know how it's going and what you use!

You'll notice (TOP PIC) on my Kelsey I have 2 bails on my Platen to hold my packing in place which is really easy, on the Adana it seams a lot more fiddly!

Adana Manual & Instruction FREE downloads

Brier Press have put up a new download section containing press manuals and also the Printing made easy book for you to download for FREE! http://www.briarpress.org/14558

It's also a great website for help and advice and I've noticed alot more adana posts appearing lately!

Antique Woodletter Happy Birthday Card from Typoretum

Antique Woodletter Happy Birthday Card, originally uploaded by typoretum.

Lock up your forme

Happy Birthday Card Letterpress Forme (2nd colour), originally uploaded by typoretum.

I want to have a go at this from Justin at Typoretum

Caligo Safe Wash RELIEF INKS

Thanks to Hannah at KUTUU for the link to these inks that I'd never heard of , no need for white spririts or press wash, ink just cleans away with liquid handsoap and water. Theyre oil based and behave like traditional oil based ink and are available in a great range of colours transparent, semi opaque and opaque but also sell the basic CYMK for mixing your own which are transparent so you can over print layers of these inks to create new colours where the transparent coloured layers overlap. The only thing that worries me is cleaning wooden type with water, but great for linocuts and polymer plates but any worries email them and the'll resolve your questions. All the info on this product is here

You can buy online from Lawrence's and Intaglio Printmakers these links will take you the right page.

STUDIO ON FIRE

These guys do some amazing stuff check out there blog http://www.beastpieces.com/ where they describe their work in detail, of course its American so we can't get hold of all the paper stock they use, but it give you ideas what can be done like using a dark red ink over a lighter red card stock as used in the top pic.

Hell-Box Letter Foundry

Another purchase! some fancy corners and rules from Ed at Letterpress Works where he runs the Hell-Box Letter Foundry, in which they take old broken type and smelt it to make new castings. Recycling thats what I like to see! I bought mine off ebay from him and if you have any specimens that you fancy, type, borders etc email him the pic, and if he has the mould he'll make them for you!

He's a very nice man and gave me free postage and if you are anywhere near him, call in I'm sure he'll give your a tour!

Hmm! Getting a urge for a letterpress tour of the counrty

INK UPDATE

Thanks to Jackson at http://foreverfoxed.blogspot.com/ for reminding me you can also get 150ml tubes of oil based Adana ink from http://www.caslon.co.uk/ in a large range of colours. He's a very clever dog Jackson and he's got a some awesome cards for sale! Here's a pic of my favourite!

LETTERPRESS INK - oil or rubber?

From what I've read it's a case of whatever floats your boat! Some people just prefer one or the other, I think I'll swing both ways and have a go with both!

Van Son Rubber Based inks dry mainly by absorption so it can be left overnight on the rollers and doesn't skin over in the tin, they can go very stiff in winter if kept a garage, if this is the case warming the tin is recommended but not adding thinners! Rubber based colours can be mixed together but NOT mixed with oil based.This ink sets rapidly on uncoated papers, but takes longer to dry on coated and metallic papers and dries to a matt finish. Rubber-based inks are not recommended for use with coated or non-absorbent paper.
Oil based dries by 50% oxidation so can't be left on the rollers overnight, in fact if left unattended it could dry within a few hours. Arrgghh! then you might need new rollers. It also forms a skin in the tin resulting in those annoying little lumps in your ink! This ink gives a glossier finish and can be used on any paper stock plus it sets quicker than rubber-based especially on coated and metallic paper. A anti-skin product is available from Gemini printers for use on rollers and ink tins.

INK SUPPLIERS

I got all my ink (pic above) off eBay at a bargain price of £20 so it pays to keep your eyes open especially as they retail about £14 a tin! I've enough ink to last me my whole letterpress life, mainly all Van Son Rubber-Based and most are unused. I've got different reds, oranges, greens, blues, brown, purple, black, grey and silver the only thing I need is some Transparent White (mixing white) and Opaque White (printing white).

Gemini printers sell Van Son Inks both Oil and Rubber, they also sell it in small amounts, 120ml jars, as well as the 1lb tins, the prices are not on the website but they'll email you an up to date one if you ask. Lawrences sell traditional varying shades of black letterpress oil based ink in tubes or tins, no skinning over in the tubes which is good!

If I find anymore suppliers or if anyone knows of any others let me know and i'll add them to my list!