PRINT for LOVE of WOOD

Thankyou to everyone who has bought my prints, just had my first sale on Etsy yesterday and sold 9 on Folksy, which is wonderful news IN A WEEK but now means I had better get my cards done and in the shop!

I have started another blog for my shop PRINT for LOVE of WOOD so I can post non-letterpress related posts and also other design inspired things I do, talking of which, my Penguins are in Liverpool find out more here! I'll keep posting here on Letterpress in the UK on letterpress related topics... happy printing everyone...

Position and register with homemade lay gauges

Your form is all locked up, done all your makeready and got your impression just right! (That's the hard bit!) Now your ready to print, but how do you get it to print in the right place?

• If you have an Adana you will have a lay bar on the bottom of your platen which will support the bottom of your paper or card, my Kelsey or QFB doesn't have one, but you will still need a gauge for the side to position your paper. Originally Lay or Gauge Pins where used and still are by some printers, I have tried to use them but found them a bit of a pain so I use this method instead, quick and easy! First I attach a sheet of tracing paper or transparent film to my top sheet by putting a piece of masking tape across the top (see top photo) I normally use transparent film as you wipe the ink off and use again but couldn't find it at the time (I must get more organised :) next take an impression (spot my typos! I was a bit tired at the time!)

• Now you need to make a lay gauge, I use a strip of 3pt lead, attach some double sided sticky tape to one side, then take a THIN piece of card, similar in size to your lead, and stick this to the opposite side, again with double sided sticky tape. You'll notice in the photo above that the card has a slight overhang, this will keep your paper in place and act as guide to slide your paper under

• Next slide your pre-scored card or paper under the transparent film and line up with the impression, on the Adana adjust the bottom lay bar first then lightly attach a side lay gauge, when your happy with the position then make sure the gauge is stuck down firmly. If you are going to be feeding the paper from the right you'll need to place a lay gauge on the left and make sure the card overhang on the lead strips doesn't interfere with your print area.

Happy Dragon Press has an article on using Lay Quads and lots of other great printing tips on its newly designed website, well worth a visit. There's also some quizzes to test your knowledge in which I did well in the Beginners but failed miserably in the Spacing Sums!

Everyone develops there own methods snap& tumble uses picture corners, anybody else have a different method?

MY NEW PRINT

My first proper linocut! This was designed to be an A4 pull out poster for my letterpress zine, a uni project. On Saturday I did my longest print run yet and went and borrowed my mentor John's Farley proofing press, 105 pulls and 5 hours later with an aching back I came home and printed the 3rd colour on the front cover of my zine, purple! Another 30 runs through my Adana then I sat down and had well earned glass of red wine :) Now to finish the back cover....

I have finally opened a shop in Folksy but still lots more to do to get my shop stocked up and then I'll open my Etsy shop. Let me know what you think please - any critique welcome, good or bad! :)

Letterpress Zine

Working on a A5 Zine for a uni project, mine's based on spreading Letterpress Love! We have to produce at least 22 copies - arghh! for this Tuesday! Front cover is in 3 colours, final colour goes on tomorrow. Hand inking each one on the Adana QFB as they won't fit on my Kelsey 8x5 - just hope the ink dries in time :) better get the hairdryer out!

Brochure from Cog Design

Love this letterpress inspired brochure by Cog design in London CLICK TO SEE ALL THE PAGES

CHRISTMAS CARD SWAP

I have been neglecting my blogging as I'm so busy with my BA(Hons) Graphic Design work, lots of deadlines in November and December!! Help! One of my projects involves creating a Zine and I'm doing mine on Letterpress, at last I get to print ;), will post soon about it!

Anyway, since starting my blog I have met lots of new inky friends, you are in my list on the right :) and wonder if any of you fancy doing a Letterpress Christmas Card Swap, will be so nice to get lots of inky cards in the post! Letterpressed with a Smile and Printmonkey are going to join in, anyone else interested? All you need to do is email me your name and address and I'll compile a list to email everyone in the swop on the 1st December and you never know you might even get other letterpressed surprises in the post! Of course I'll blog each card I get, and hopefully everyone can do the same, if you don't want your address sent to everyone and would just like a Christmas Card from me then just let me know!

Spread the Letterpress Love x