LETTERPRESS IN THE UK

2012-01-27T11:19:00.000Z

Print Festival 2012

Celebrating traditional and contemporary print process through type and image.

26th to 31st January 2012

Leeds Gallery
York Street, Leeds LS9 8AG

The one-week Leeds Print Festival 2012 at Leeds Gallery has a programme of exhibitions, lectures, workshops, open studios and performances covering all print disciplines. This unique collection of events will deliver a dose of inspiration whilst drawing attention to print and its importance in contemporary design culture.

www.leedsprintfestival.com

A Letterpress Film by Danny Cooke

2012-01-26T18:07:00.000Z

Upside Down, Left To Right: A Letterpress Film from Danny Cooke on Vimeo.

Letterpress Workshops from Turnbull Grey

2011-12-01T11:01:00.001Z

Workshops take place in our studio in Clerkenwell so we allow 3 people per session, there will be 2 people teaching and guiding you through. Sessions will fill up quickly so it will be first come first served. If you have a group of 3 people and a date in mind please let us know and we will see if we can set up a session for you.

£50 including all materials, tea and coffee.

Dates are as follows:
Tuesday 29 November 10am - 1pm
Thursday 1 December 10am - 1pm
Tuesday 6 December 2pm - 5pm
Thursday 8 December 10am - 1pm
Tuesday 13 December 2pm - 5pm
Thursday 15 December 10am - 1pm
Tuesday 20 December 10am - 1pm
Thursday 22 December 2pm - 5pm

To book your place or to find out more please call 020 7608 3324 or email info@turnbullgrey.co.uk
www.turnbullgrey.co.uk

Clever idea!

2011-10-10T14:42:00.000+01:00

Makr Box Printing. from Jason Gregory on Vimeo.
Box Printing with custom milled platen. Antique press used to print the Daytona Herald. Printed by Nick Sambrato of Mama's Sauce printing. Filmed and edited by Jonpaul Douglass.
found via Type & Press

Letterpress Exhibition in Denmark

2011-09-08T13:09:00.001+01:00

I'm please to have three prints included in this letterpress exhibition wish I could visited but will have to make do with photos from their flickr account, lots more to see here and regularly updated www.flickr.com/photos/symposium2011.

In the background of the first photo you can just see flowers&fleurons work ‘Tower of Babble’. John was lucky enough to visit the private view, you can see more pictures of his process and pictures of the exhibition soon over on his blog here

The exhibition has been designed and curated by:

Keith Bassford – graphic designer and letterpress printer and Jens Jørgen Hansen – letterpress printer

Letterpress Mexico

2011-09-05T11:59:00.000+01:00

Ditoria from typometro on Vimeo.
Thanks to Scott for link to this video, not new but I missed it the first time round via Spiekermann
The music's a little LOUD at the beginning but settles down. Great to see glimpses of book production at a small press!

20 line De Little no.181

2011-08-11T13:06:00.003+01:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/printforloveofwood/6032099508/in/photostream

This has to be one of my favourites in my wood type collection, so was jumping for joy when I managed to acquire all the missing letters and a no.3 to complete the set. At 20 line (approx 84mm) it takes up a lot of room in a case so marked with a white pencil they are now stored ontheir end in a deep drawer but with the ampersand on display!

Workshops with Alan Kitching

2011-07-26T20:46:00.001+01:00

World-renowned typographer, designer and letterpress practitioner Alan Kitching (RDI AGI Hon FRCA), will teach a hands-on two day course exploring the details and fundamentals of typography. The course will give each participant an exceptional understanding of typesetting and the art of letterpress printing.

Who wouldn't like to take part in one on Alan Kitchings workshops? At £700 it doesn't come cheap, especially if you live miles way like me, so now for now it's on my wish list!

For more information on the project and forthcoming dates visit www.thetypographyworkshop.com

Help Japan

2011-07-14T10:23:00.000+01:00

Calling all letterpress printers, deadline for entries is 30th July. There's still time to send a contribution to a letterpress exhibition to raise money for the earthquake child support group in lwate prefecture. The exhibition will be traveling to Nagasaki Prefectural Art Museum.
More info can be found here

Bradford Industrial Museum

2011-06-21T19:32:00.001+01:00

An introduction to the Bradford printing industry from Charlotte Taylor on Vimeo.

On my to visit list is the printing section of the Bradford Industrial Museum
Not too far from me and the cars and steam engines should keep the boys happy while this gal goes and talks to some old school printers who are available every Wednesday 10.30 - 3.30pm.
Thanks to the guys over at the print project for the heads up on this video by Charlotte Taylor

Guts & Glory: The Commercial

2011-06-03T14:06:00.000+01:00

The drama! Like the start of an epic movie and if your wondering what's Ram, they make beefy Amercian trucks, check out the site locked up in a chase Guts and Glory.
Love it, wouldn't find that on your telly in the UK ;o)

The making of a commercial

2011-06-03T13:57:00.000+01:00

via Woodtyper on twitter

Learning the craft of letterpress

2011-05-30T13:48:00.006+01:00

Learning the craft of letterpress can be a little daunting DIY so I recommend taking a short course before embarking on buying a press or if you have already bought one then it will give you the confidence handling your equipment.

I'll be setting up a page for courses and workshops in the UK but in the meantime I'll kick off with Justin at Typoretum who's running some over the summer 2011 in beautiful rural Essex, accommodation is available locally, would make a lovely weekend break!

Hurry! Only a few places left!

One or two day Short courses in letterpress typesetting and printing.

Expert tuition will be provided and students will have the opportunity to typeset and print their own piece of work. Students will have access to our extensive library of metal letterpress type & woodletter and printing will take place on Albion & Columbian handpresses and Farley proofing presses.

For more information and to book visit the website www.typoretum.co.uk

Wayzgooze

2011-05-19T12:42:00.005+01:00

Here's an opportunity to get your hands inky at the Amberley Museum and Heritage Centre in West Sussex.

They are also hoping to have a Monotype Composition Caster up and running.

To see a list of machinery in the exhibit view here

For direction and opening times please see www.amberleymuseum.co.uk

Pictures copyright of Glen Morgan UK on Flickr

The Print Workshop provides a display of printing machinery and artefacts.

Most of the Print Workshop’s exhibits are operational and in use throughout the season.

laser cut wood type

2011-05-15T14:15:00.003+01:00

First attempt at laser cutting type using 3mm MDF. Scanning a print of an original lowercase 'o', I then made a template in Adobe Illustrator using a thin hair line. When laser cutting a hairline is a cut, solid areas work as rasters and etch, cutting being the quickest method. The ‘o’ was then mounted on a En space and backed up to type high with a thin piece of card.

MDF is not a good choice as the surface goes slightly rough when ink is applied, but after the ink has dried and sealed the surface, a light sanding will render it smooth. Overall this worked a treat when I needed an extra 'o', the laser cut one is on the bottom line of text and if you look at the larger view it has printed not as well as the others.

But all that said I didn't want the print to be perfect as I actually like the imperfections, being a bit of a perfectionist it would be easy for me to apply more make ready on the type, for instant the lowercase 'g' could have done with some, to actually walk away is harder for me. That's what I love about letterpress and wood type (like it or not) is the imperfections and one day at a time it is helping me to loosen up in my approach to design and art.

Second attempt for a project at uni this time using 3/4" oak veneered MDF. In this case the images where etched by making a solid template in Adobe Illustrator. This process takes an awful lot longer that just cutting. The very large manicule 32 line by 72 ems (134mm x 300mm) took 45 mins per etch and it took 4 etchings to get a 2mm relief. Would have like a much deeper relief but ran out of time, the ‘off the’, about half the size, took 20 mins per etch. Again these will need backing up to type-high but the oak veneer will give a better printing surface. After etching I then had to cut the blocks to size on a table saw, the laser cutter tends to burn the wood when cutting (you actually get a small flame ) and as the cut at some points meets your image there is a chance that you will ruin your block.

In conclusion sourcing type-high wood is the major problem but for one off projects and missing letters I don't find having to back up to type high a problem. The etching process proves best for detailed images but takes the longest but if I could source hardwood that was 3mm I would use the veneered method for my missing wood letters. as this is the quickest method. Bethany Heck at End grain (link below) shows a detailed method on how you could make the blocks to mount your veneered letters.

It is also very easy to produce missing letters using polymer or lino but as I had the use of a laser I wanted to experiment with wood.

The Rob Roy Kelley has a section giving details on the different methods on how wood type was produced which you can view here

Here's some links in which moveable type has created using a laser cut method.

End Grain - Creating movable type

Nick Sherman - Wood Type production

Virgin Wood Type - New wood type for sale

Moore Wood Type - Combining traditional and laser technology

If there are any other links that could be added to this list, feel free to leave a comment...

Like it or not polymer plates have made a ‘impression’ on the letterpress world, will be interesting to see what lasers bring to the table in the future. There's an interesting article on Woodtyper which you can read here

Laser cut wood type

2011-05-12T08:56:00.000+01:00

An Exhibtion by Justin Knopp of Typoretum together with Imagesurgery at The Gallery, Church Walk, Colchester – 6th May to June 18th 2011.

Along with hand-typeset Granby Light (Stephenson Blake), Prisma, Castellar, Gill Sans Titling & Gill Floriated are laser-cut blocks of wood type.

You can more images of the laser cut proto type here on Typorteum's Flickr set

Workstation

2011-05-08T17:27:00.000+01:00

Ok it's only took a year to start this project, recalling this post I was inspired to make myself a storage unit inspired by these in Berlin from schub laden.

Typecases were not a problem but finding odd drawers was harder than I thought, finally got 3 drawers that would be perfect from an old broken desk, a large filing drawer and two smaller drawers, now I will be able to find my quoin keys and typescale a whole lot easier!

angle iron makes great runners for typecases

Still to finish off with some edging and paint then finally need a worktop to join it to another cabinet as this is going to be a workstation for the table tops presses. But don't hold your breath as that might be another 6 months ;o)

Letterpress

2011-04-22T11:11:00.001+01:00

Letterpress from Naomie Ross on Vimeo.
Beautifully presented video and I've never tried mixing coloured ink with silver, one for the to try list.
via www.genghiskern.com on twitter

Anna Fewster

2011-04-09T18:06:00.000+01:00

Images copyright of Anna Fewster

Acquired an Adana 8x5 and feel you don't know where to start, well take a little inspiration from Anna Fewster who runs Lampyridae Press.

Anna has created some beautiful work on her trusty Adana from Bloomsbury inspired note cards and bookplates to poetry broadsides using traditional methods of hand set metal type and linoleum cuts. Her work has even appeared in American Vogue, you can find out more about Anna on her website www.annafewster.co.uk or visit her blog Lampyridae Press for the latest updates.

Happy printing!

Victorian delights

2011-03-14T15:55:00.004Z

I may have mentioned my love for Victorian Theatre bills and posters so I was very happy to pick up a copy of Victorian Delights by Robert Wood 1967 (now out of print) for only £4. I do love a bargain ;D

The book in in no way about typography but about Victorian Life explored through a wonderful collection of handbills and posters from the collection of John Proctor, printer of Hartlepool. Robert Wood, a well known West Hartlepool, historian, has preserved over 40,000 examples of early printing ephemera from John Procter's printing firm which is now held by Hartlepool Museum, more information is available here.

Example above are just a very small selection I've uploaded to flickr, the book is not only a very interesting read but contains page after page of typography eye candy with the main emphasis placed on the images. Lots more images in my Flickr collection here. The top pic is a crazy wood face I've not seen before and I'm not sure of what classification it would fall in, maybe Gothic Tuscan? Do leave a comment if you know the answer...

A recommended buy if you can find a copy plus I've only photographed about half the pages!

Let’s Press

2011-02-24T17:49:00.000Z

Let's Press from Strawberry Militia on Vimeo.

Strawberry Militia and Graphic Fury presents in association with the University of the Arts London ‘Let’s Press’ a film about letter press.

via simon goode

Testing paper on the Adana 8x5

2011-02-12T15:02:00.005Z

Saunders Waterford cotton 300g Rough and 300g NOT, printed with some 60pt Gothic Condensed which measures 78mm x 20mm using hard packing.

I get lots of emails of Adana owners who can't get impression, well you can get a very good impression on a 8x5 press without using extreme force, but bare in mind the size of your text or block. A good way to get a feeling of what your Adana is capable of is to practice locking up different sizes of type and illustration blocks and printing without ink (blind impression).
The A6 card below is printed with wood type on the Adana 8x5 but the only way to get
an impression was to split into two colours that way pressure is displaced not in one solid area. Also bare in mind this will eventually lead to well worn blocks as you are pushing into the paper, the wood type used here is well worn so the impression is not as crisp.

Printed on 300g Somerset Rough 100% cotton

Lots of water colour paper is good for printing on, the better it is the more expensive! Bockingford is a less expensive range but still good quality, your local art suppliers will stock plenty of ranges to experiment with before trying out more expensive papers like Cranes Lettra.
It's also worth noting that all the lovely letterpress work knocking around on the internet has been done mostly on larger presses that really pack a punch, your Adana hasn't got the same pressure but treat it kindly and don't ask to much at once and you'll get some lovely results ;D

play with type

2011-02-02T19:41:00.002Z

I was honoured to be included in Jens’s mailing list of his recent Christmas work ‘a play with V’ featuring the use of some intricate formes of locked type on the cover and pages. Above is the forme for just one of my favourites, the house of cards, using brass rule and Victory

You can see more pictures on Bogtrykkeren’s Flickr photos HERE

Are you inspire to have a play?

There are no rules start simple like this one here or go crazy like this one here and this one or this get more technical. If you are new to letterpress just follow the tip below and HAVE FUN!

LETTERPRESS TIP

When you tighten your quoins, tighten each one a little a time starting with the outside ones first (if using more than 2 quoins) and working in, alternating between each one. Don't just tighten one quoin up as tight as you can before moving to another and don't over tighten or you might find your forme lifting and springing outwards. To test wether your forme is locked up tight enough, gently lift your chase a LITTLE, if there's one little bit just not holding, loosen your quoins and add a metal thin or card, tighten your quoins again, repeat until it holds.

The really crazy ones are best done a flat bed press (less chance of things dropping out) but it still works on a platen. More inspiration in the group pool Letterpress Forme on Flickr

2011-01-11T12:16:00.001Z

Was a little too busy to do any Christmas cards this year and join in the Flickr swap but a BIG thank you for these inky friends for sending me some lovely snail mail...

A lovely surprise from Lunada Bay Letterpress featuring an electrotype border and hand set type beautifully printed on dampened BFK Rives tan, which is available in the UK from various supplies listed on the right.

Handwritten and letterpress postcard (beautiful writing ;) from Lou Lou Loves Books who's gone to India teaching printmaking and bookbinding skills for a charity, what an exciting adventure, you can read more about it here. Lovely Caribou linocut from Alison at Handprinted by A. Deegan.

Hand set wood type from The Printmonkey Press and vintage hand set metal type from Hi-Artz

Hand set wood type and metal ornaments from flowers & fleurons printed on craneslettra.

Hears to lots of ink and print in 2011

All that jazz!

2010-12-17T17:05:00.001Z

Countdown - John Coltrane from Michael Croxton on Vimeo.
via woodtyper more info here!
Turn up the volume, view on full screen and enjoy! - AMAZING!

type face

2010-11-27T10:09:00.000Z

Wow this is one huge woodtype forme, 1000mm x 1500mm, designed using a grid by Andrew Bainbridge for the Chase Manchester. You can see more of the process here and here.

Letterpress & litho

2010-11-05T18:25:00.001Z

Wings: Making the Field Notes 2010 Fall Edition from Coudal Partners on Vimeo.
Nice to see how things are made on a large scale, especially print...
via poppytalk

2010-09-24T22:52:00.004+01:00

Sorry for the lack of post, back to uni this week on the final year of my degree, lots of intense study!

Good news I'll be at the PAD Gallery in Preston on Saturday with a selection of table top presses for you to print on, admission is free and you can even bring the kids along.

So if your passing that way please pop in and say hello, but please all don't come at once ;D

Type Cabinets for sale

2010-09-20T11:32:00.005+01:00

A range of type cabinets available for sale as seen in the photo plus others that are in storage so hard to photograph. A few are available with matching drawers and removable sloping tops, also just one with metal drawers and complete matching typecases. Also available as empty without cases
Viewing is welcome, Jct 3 off the M65, Feniscowels, Blackburn

Prices vary please call John for details on 01254 208713,

Complete with matching drawers and sloping top £125. Delivery available at a reasonable cost within a feasible distance. Please note telephone enquiries only!

printing tip

2010-09-02T00:42:00.001+01:00

This is a simple tip that you can use on any size of Letterpress, even an Adana 5x8, I use this all the time for small and even big jobs on the Farley proofing press. I don't think I've ever mentioned it before but thought beginners might find it useful.
Shown above is some type locked up (forme*) in a small chase off an Adana 5x3 which is then locked up in an even bigger chase, if you collect several of the small chases you can save your compositions that you want to keep, locked up and ready for immediate use, great for something like your business cards and they are pretty cheap to pick up too.

*A forme in letterpress printing – also known as a lockup or composition – is an arrangement of printing material and accompanying spacing material from which prints are made. The main goal of the arrangement is to keep the type and other printing material firmly in place throughout printing.

St. Bride Library Event

2010-08-19T14:11:00.000+01:00

Letterpress: Forward thinking

Friday 19 November 2010

One-day letterpress conference

Join us for a day packed with talks, demonstrations and discussion celebrating new ideas and practice in handset typography.

Letterpress, we were once told, was a thing of the past. Yet, now letterpress is very clearly the focus of renewed enthusiasm. Interest in setting types by hand continues to grow, with an increase in letterpress activity further fuelled by an ongoing concern with visual authenticity. For many, letterpress offers something beyond straightforward graphic reproduction. It offers the means to create hand-made objects of worth.

But to what extent are we still looking backwards rather than forwards when we consider our expectations of letterpress? Much contemporary practice certainly seems to have settled into something of a retro-groove. In the midst of all the nostalgia though, there are people who offer alternatives to this potential dead-end, reinventing their practices and working in more exploratory ways.

Our speakers will share with us their excitement at the possibilities before us. Together we can discover what is genuinely new in letterpress thinking across areas such as education, design, printing practice and mechanical futures. Having begun to find out what innovation in letterpress might mean, the challenge will be for each of us to then consider how we might creatively respond.

For more details click here

Equipment for sale

2010-07-20T13:08:00.004+01:00

My mentor John has recently saved the contents of a print shop from going into the melting pot along with some Type cabinets and sloping tops (pictured), various cases, lead cutter, cornerstone and resalite furniture and quoins. These are soon to be listed on eBay but if anyone is interested in getting in there first then you can email me and I will pass on your details. Please note these items are to be picked up only from Blackburn Lancashire Jct 3 M65, not posted.

All the type has been cleaned and sorted into smaller manageable founts and I can guarantee you won't get any worn or mismatched type, please see list below if your interested...

72pt -   Gill Bold Titling
72pt - Gill Ex.Bold Con.Titling
60pt - Rockwell Shadow
60pt - Times Roman
48pt -   Gill Bold Titling
48pt -   Trafton Script
48pt -   Times Bold
48pt -   Gill Ex.Bold Cond.Titling
48pt -   Perpetua Titling
48pt -   Gill Bold Condensed
42pt -   Phosphor
42pt -   Palace Script
36pt -   Mercury Bold
36pt -   Phosphor
36pt -   Rockwell Shadow
36pt -   Mercury
36pt -   Optima
36pt -   Gill Ex.Bold
30pt -   Times Roman
(no uppercase X).
30pt -    Imprint (slight G damage).
30pt -   Harlequin Script
30pt -   Rockwell Shadow
30pt -   Trafton Script
24pt -   Mercury
24pt -   Gill Ex.Bold
18pt -   Broadway
18pt -   Modernistic
18pt -   Rockwell Shadow
18pt -   Times Bold
18pt -   Optima
18pt -   Univers Ex.Bold
14pt -   Times Roman
10pt -   Times Bold

UPDATE THE TYPE HAS ALL SOLD NOW - THANK YOU

Printer's Wayzgoose

2010-07-06T12:48:00.003+01:00

Photo from Alan at the Hedgehog Press

Unfortunately for me this is a 4 hour drive away but if anyone pays a visit do take some photos and post a link in the comments below

HUGE New wood type

2010-06-12T11:14:00.001+01:00

Just took delivery of this 26 line latin wood type, nearly 28cm in length and 57 pieces in all, don't know if are any missing yet as I need a large area to lay them all out. I've put a 5x8 chase there for comparison, it weighs a tonne :)
Apparently it's been stuck to a ceiling in Bradford and it smell awful musty but the face hasn't been touched and if full of character, but before I can print with it I'll have to clean all the glue off the back!
Anybody any idea what to use, I've tried a scraper but it's like an epoxy based resin, so maybe paint stripper will work?

A new type face

2010-06-03T01:21:00.002+01:00

A new acquisition, love it or hate it, in my case I love a little French Clarendon matcho typeface to add to a Fathers Day card, you can see it printed here

Letterpress chain letter

2010-05-27T11:53:00.001+01:00

If you own a press or even borrow one and are in the UK why not join the UK letterpress group on Flickr and post some photos of what you've been up to, it's a great way of meeting new printing friends who you can share your letterpress experiences with. Doesn't matter wether you own a Adana 5x3 or a Heidelberg, professional or just print for a hobby, we can all learn things from each other and for all you just starting a letterpress adventure you just might meet someone who lives close by who's willinng to offer a helping hand :)
Add me as a contact on Flickr and I'll send you an invite!

A letterpress chain letter's been set up if you feel like joining, (info on the Flickr group discussion) first yellow layer done by Carl followed by PrintMonkey then it was my turn, so here's my contribution, printed on my mentors Farley proofing press, and for those who don't get it when your ink goes over the edge of the paper it's called a bleed :)

$600 worth of prizes up for grabs

2010-04-30T09:44:00.001+01:00

letterpress week at oh,hello friend!
image by: letteria
Last day to check out all the great giveaways and some great letterpress inspiration!

Edward Bawden - A Frog and an Ox

2010-04-23T18:37:00.003+01:00

picture from the BOOK ROOM ART PRESS

Colour linocut, 1970. In the 1970’s Bawden made a series of prints based on Aesop’s fables. The frog, with feet firmly balanced on the water-lily, puffs himself up to twice his normal size. He points towards a passing Ox and, boasting to his companions, suggests that he, too, can be the size of this Ox. His companions doubt this, and with each puff deny that he has yet reached the Ox’s size. Determined, the Frog continues puffing until, finally, he bursts. The moral? Rather than imitate others, be true to your self.

A little Friday inspiration for you from the talented Edward Bawden and lots here more on flickr
Looks like we are in for a sunny weekend in the UK I'm off to enjoy it while it last... anybody got anything nice planned?

Pictorial Webster's fine press edition

2010-04-16T22:07:00.000+01:00

Pictorial Webster's: Inspiration to Completion from John Carrera on Vimeo.

Letterpress Specimen French Audebaud

2010-04-12T19:27:00.009+01:00

During the cold winter months I promised Matt Desmond of MADtype a Letterpress type specimen of my 12 line French Egyptian in return for the digitised version he designed, well I finally got round to it and discovered in the printing that someone had attempted to clean up the type so much (probably sanding) that I got this results...

So after lots of make-ready I finally achieved a half decent print, though I'm probably going to have to give the wood type a coat of shellac to seal it as it was soaking up the ink! For those who want to know what make ready is you add small amounts of tissue, in layers, to the back of sort (letters) a their weakest point, you can also try replacing individual letters. Their is a more in depth article on the Happy Dragon Press Website who also sell Make Ready tissue, I actually used ripped newsprint for mine as it was so bad. Here's Matt's print in black as requested

Here's Matt digitised version, pitty I don't have a lowercase! He's done a great job don't you think? I particularly like the lowercase "j" and "y" and the teardrop counter in the capital "A" makes me go weak at the knees :)

There's a makers mark on the wood type which is hard to see never mind photograph, which reads AUDEBAUD BRESSUIRE (2 SEVRES)

Matt did some sleuthing and found out that the person who created it was named Constant Audebaud. He worked as a wood type engraver in the 1880s in the Bressuire subprefecture of the département of Deux-Sèvres in France hence the name Audebaud, only fitting he named his type this don't you think?

Audebaud is available h ere

Storage solution

2010-03-30T21:25:00.002+01:00

I'm so desperate for storage but as my studio is also my dining room I need it to match with the rest of the decor so I am loving this custom made furniture from schubLaden in Berlin.

found on share some candy via I'm patrycja & I love type

I have an endless supply of miss matched type drawers, an eclectic mix of handles and a husband who's a joiner by trade! Maybe the thought of me being more organised will get him to make me one :-)

Emma Case Photography

2010-03-27T11:11:00.011Z

The lovely, bubbly Emma asked me to print some CD cases for her photography, she loved the idea of them printed on brown craft card as she's eco friendly like me, we really struggled to find Cd cases in craft card in the UK so we ended getting some from STUMPTOWN PRINTERS. I did look into getting some made but this was going to be small print run of a 100 so not feasible unless I wanted a 1000. I say a small print run :) big to me!! 3 colours my biggest print run yet!
Emma already had designed her logo but I tweaked it a little changing a few of the fonts, especially the 'BABIES' as the thin stroke could cause some problems in inking and the plate making. The 16 gauge type high mounted plates came from Centurion and for those who are unsure about the making and sending of files I've outline my process below...

Logo drawn to size in Illustrator CYMK and fonts outlined, a thin red stroke was added 6mm away from the edge of the type, to allow room to grip the plate in the making process. The logo was then copied 3 times and the corresponding colours left on each plate, all the outlined type was then changed to 100% black. The thin red stroke was left red to show where I wanted my plates to be cut, doing it this way would help with registration as all the blocks would be exactly the same size. allowing all the furniture in my forme to remain and I just changed the plate.

Make sure you are working in CYMK and not RGB so your black is 100% black
Make your artwork the required size, charges may occur if you want it made bigger or smaller
Give clear instructions with your design and speak to your plate maker, they are very helpul and won't bite :)
If possible use a program like Illustrator, InDesign, CorelDRAW etc for type, it is possible to send files done in Photshop but make sure your files are 1200dpi.
Make sure all your files are outlined or rasterized.
Thin lines - keep them to a min of 2 pt
PDF is the best format to save and send your files, other formats are accepted such as jpegs, eps, tiff

Printing on my Kelsey went like a dream apart from I had to add tape to my roller bearers and file down the corners of my plates as the rollers were catching, though this was down to the block being slightly higher than type-high. I didn't even need to alter anything for registration I'll post the results here as soon as Emma has received her parcel ;) she was a dream to work with and check out her fantastic retro work, just love the Photo Booth idea, sooo much fun ;-) http://emmacasephotography.blogspot.com/

10 Line Gothic

2010-03-22T09:03:00.003Z

10 Line Gothic, originally uploaded by jacqui sharples.

Click picture for more of my collection

8 Line Latin

2010-03-22T09:01:00.004Z

8 Line Latin, originally uploaded by jacqui sharples.

Just been taking a few photos of my wood type that has been sorted, still more to clean and organize, and notice that most of my gothic or grot if you prefer is made by Day & Collins, never noticed the makers mark before. The only sans that isn't by them, 10 line Gothic, has a 'Q; which is just like the Gothic Light in the Rob Roy Kelly Specimens. Most of this type, accept for recent purchases, came with a printers cabinet I got ages ago off eBay for £90, I won't come across a bargain like that again, it contained 11 full fonts!

New on my book shelf

2010-03-14T18:06:00.001Z

A new book to add to my heavy laden shelves, found this preview that will
give you a sneak peak :)

Exhibition of Mexican prints at the British Museum

2010-03-13T16:18:00.002Z

A couple of weeks ago a spent a few days in London and had the pleasure to meet up with Helen aka HI-ARTZ press, when she kindly introduced me to an exhibition 'Revolution on paper: Mexican prints 1910–1960' at the British Museum.

So much print eye candy I found it hard to talk to Helen with my eyes trying to take in all the relief print splendor, not copious amounts of wood letters but the quality of the lino and woodcuts made up for it! I took lots of pictures, which the quality of in no way reflects the real thing, you see some of my favorites on my Flickr.

The exhibition runs until 5th April 2010 and will then travel to three venues across the UK in September 2010 (details to follow), entry is FREE! There's a short documentary here and you read more about the exhibition here.

So if you can't get to London it will hopefully to your neck of the woods in September, Manchester please then I can go again :)

LINOCUT by A Deegen

2010-03-11T01:45:00.003Z

My recent purchase off Folksy "Spiral Rabbit in Black" from Handprinted by A. Deegan

Beautifully printed on to Hahnemuhle Printing Paper, I just couldn't resist!

You can read what inspires Alison here on her blog

PLAYBILLS

2010-02-25T11:18:00.009Z

I have a thing about the old playbill posters, just love wood type for a start but I alway find it fascinating how they playfully squashed so much type in so little space! Pictured top is a print available from V&A, bottom is a favourite from my FLICKR GALLERY on Vintage playbills.

For anyone interested in playbills pay a visit to LEEDS PLAYBILLS

This site is making available all the playbills in the Local Studies Library collection from a wide range of Leeds Theatres such as The City Varieties, The Grand, The Princess and the Theatre Royal. The site provides a unique insight into theatre life in Leeds between 1781 and the 1990's. The site also contains some circus bills, such as those from Pablo Fanque's Circus.

UPDATE interesting read here on WOODTYPER that goes more in depth into Leeds Playbill site

MIXING INK - TRANSPARENCY

2010-02-17T15:12:00.002Z

I've been asked about overlapping transparent inks and what inks I use, so I did a little experiment...
I use primarily VanSon Rubber based ink that come in Pantone colours. Below I've mixed a TINY bit of Relex Blue and Bordeaux Red with Transparent white, adding tiny amounts until I got the colour I wanted, the overlapping ink then produces purple. The effect is watery in appearance and the choice of paper stock can also alter the appearance and colour.
What depth you want the colour if just a personal preference but don't forget it is better to add the tiniest amounts at a time, it's a lot easier to darken your colour than to suddenly find you have to add large amounts of transparent white to get it lighter :)

I just love the colours in the photo below, the starting point for a new project :)

Why do I use VanSon, well being eco friendly I would have loved to used water based inks but these wouldn't be good for my wood letters, and as I recycled most of my ink from a printer selling up they didn't end up in a landfill! Soya based inks are not readily available to the small printer and there is much debate as to whether they are so eco friendly, a search through Briar Press will give you lots of info on the subject! VanSon do not come in CYMK but come in Pantone colours so you can buy the Pantone Formula guide which include the formulas for mixing Pantone inks.
There are several relief inks on the market if your not bothered about matching Pantone colours (links available under supplies on the right) but bear in mind some of these are primarily made for fine art printmaking so if you just want to print relief art then these may be for you! These too offer a transparency extender but from what I can gather, as I have never used these inks, is that some of the colours are already transparent/semi transparent/semi opaque, so straight from the tin a blue overlapping yellow would give a green.
If anyone has any info on transparency effects with ink they would like to share, post a clickable link in the comments below, and if you want know how to post clickable links in read this from the very helpful Haptree :)

Back from Berlin

2010-02-04T15:34:00.002Z

I arrived back at the weekend from a wonderfully inspiring trip to Berlin and amazingly smallcaps wonderful studio was only 200m from my hotel so we arranged to meet and she gave me a tour :) What a small world and it was lovely to chat to Sabrina, lucky for me she speaks extremely good English as languages was always my worst subject! You can see more of here lovely work here.

I just need to find me my cable for my camera so I can download my pics of Berlin, now where did I put it...

Impression scews

2010-01-19T23:50:00.002Z

Most of the time I print on my Kelsey I manage to get the impression right pretty quick but trying to print my new plate for the back of my cards proved to be a right pain! I had the plate landscape then portrait just to check it if it needed any make ready tissue on the back as it kept missing ever so slightly in one corner, changed my packing, but no it wasn't that, just hadn't got my impression screws just right, when all else fails and it still won't print right, take a break, back off the impressions screws and start again, you'll get there in the end :)

There's a problem with the Kelsey Excelsior when you start on a long print run, after a while the impression screws will just slightly move, messing up the impression, common problem I believe and some people have resorted to replacing the screws at the back with bolts and washers!

Magnesium & Polymer plate suppliers in the UK

2010-01-12T23:09:00.016Z

I've had a plate of my logo made for the back of my cards at Centurion Graphics, they are very helpful and the turnaround is quick, they will also mount on a woodbase to type high for for a small fee.

Below if a list of suppliers in the UK, that have been recommended, who'll accept your artwork by email.

For letterpress you will require 16 gauge or 16g plates which are commonly known in the trade as "ZINCOS".

Centurion Graphics - Preston, Lancashire - supply type high mounted zincos & polymer plates

Metallic Elephant - Coulchester, Essex - zincos, can be mounted type-high

Blingford Graphics - Walsall, West Midlands - supply type high mounted zincos
Park Graphics - Manchester - zincos and polymer plates

JFM Plates - Manchester - zincos and polymer plates

Unfortunately if you want Polymer (photopolymer) plates also known as Nylos then there's not many who supply in the UK but if you are feeling adventurous then there's plenty of kits available online to make your own. Please note to get an impression you need deep relief polymer and at this moment in time there are no suppliers in the UK for deep relief plates so you either buy from Boxcar or use magnesium plates which work perfectly for impression.

UPDATE NEW POLYMER PLATE SUPPLIERS
If you have a boxcar base please note these are just standard plates and not deep relief
Centurion Graphics - are now suppliers polymer plates
Park Graphics - Manchester - polymer plates
JFM Plates - Manchester - polymer plates

BOXCAR PRESS - US - suppliers of polymer plates and Boxcar base

If anyone can recommend some additions to this list the please leave a comment or email me

New North Press & Elephants' Graveyard

2010-01-10T01:48:00.003Z

A parcel from Berlin

2010-01-07T13:12:00.005Z

This morning I received a long awaited parcel from small caps in Berlin. I get very excited when I get post especially when it contains lots of letter press goodies...

Some letter pressed tags that I can keep for next year, that is if I can bare to part with them, a hand written thank you card with a very handsome mustache and Christmas card printed with wood and metal type and stars. Lovely letterpress!

I also got some delicious German cookies, which I can't stop eating, and as I'm off to Berlin at the end of January, Sabrina so kindly sent me lots of info for my trip all personalised for me with the best places to visit and eat. Tausend Dank Sabrina!
You can read all about Sabrina's adventures on her Adana here at small caps.
I'm off for a coffee break with some cookies and to plan my berlin trip :)

Christmas card swap

2010-01-01T14:20:00.002Z

Another card swap arrived yesterday from Gina at DOLCE INVITO in Philadelphia. Gina has just purchased an Adana and printed these lovely cards during class on a C&P Pilot using the infamous Cranes Lettra.
Thank you and a Happy New year Gina and and an inky 2010 on the Adana :)
& a very Happy New Year to you all.

Milliooo,ooon thanks!

2010-01-01T14:06:00.002Z

All these wonderful Christmas gifts my family have received need some thank you notes!
Experimenting with different colours, thinking of putting them in my shop as sets, what do you think?

Card Swop

2009-12-30T19:25:00.003Z

The weather has held the post up on the Christmas Card swap but I'm sure they'll all reach their destinations, I received two letterpressed cards from Letterpressed with a Smile, one Karl had a doodled on and another blank one for have a doodle on :) An emergency chair, I needed after all that shopping! Merry Christmas Karl!

My cards ended up a bit of a rush but I found some wonderful recycled banana card in my supplies that reminded me of snow so I did a trifold design with Ho Ho Ho printed with wood letters in silver on the front...

...also had a bit of fun trying to lock up the form for Rudolf, not a good example of how it should be done, but it worked!

in the middle I used an old Christmas greeting block in silver...

Hope everyone has had a very Merry Christmas and may all your dreams come true for 2010!

Christmas Card Swop from the Print Monkey Press

2009-12-13T10:50:00.005Z

I have had a week from hell with two deadlines this week for my BA, my hard drive packed up and lost some work so I had to do it all again and the paper I ordered next day delivery has been messed up, and will get here too late. Just to top it off my printer packed in, so I've had to quickly go and by another as I've another deadline on Monday! Groan...

But there was a wonderful surprise through the letterbox to cheer me up :)

A lovely letterpress Christmas cards wishing me an Inky Christmas from The Print Monkey Press which are now for sale on his FOLKSY SHOP

A reduction linoprint of a church window which you can read about here

and this wonderful inspiration film about Amos Paul Kennedy Jr who gave up his career at 40ish to become a letterpress printer... I go to bed and dream :)

I don't know where The Print Monkey got it from but THANKYOU! - you'll have to visit his new website THE PRINT MONKEY PRESS and ask him, I recommend it for any letterpress enthusiast. Thank you Ian you really brightened my week :)

PRINT for LOVE of WOOD

2009-11-28T16:18:00.003Z

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

2009-11-25T23:31:00.010Z

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

2009-11-17T01:36:00.010Z

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

2009-11-14T02:13:00.005Z

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

2009-11-10T01:19:00.003Z

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

CHRISTMAS CARD SWAP

2009-11-04T12:50:00.005Z

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

Pattern

2009-10-09T19:40:00.006+01:00

You don't just just have to limit your letterpress to words and pictures what about some pattern, you could use lino cuts mounted type high or magnesium and polymer plates or letterpress flourishes

Heart card from BLUSH

A two colour lino print from GENERAL PATTERN

4 colour lino print on a press... Flickr

2009-10-07T14:36:00.005+01:00

Jumping Off Point proof, originally uploaded by BoundStaffPress.etsy.com.

Bound Staff Press created these beautifully detailed 4 colour linocut plates for his press, click on the picture to see the process on on Flickr.
I am inspired!

BOOK COVER

2009-09-28T23:33:00.005+01:00

Click on photos to supersize

Back at Uni now, first week back me and and another student did an exhibition for The Early Years programme, children were basically given paint, tools and a huge canvas and let loose with no interference from adults, we did the photography, invites and display boards and I did a book showing the process and theories. What a good excuse to use some wooden letters and have a play myself, used rubber based ink on grey board, can't show you the rest of the book because it contains pictures of the children - who looked just as messy as my print!

LETTERPRESS INK & WASH

2009-09-16T21:32:00.009+01:00

I came across these Printmaking Suppliers who make their own ink, HAWTHORN'S, who have an online shop. Their inks are very strong and transparent so you may need to add transparent or opaque white to get the desired colour, they recommend the STAY OPEN INKS for letterpress which come in a mass array of colours including process CYMK and gold, silver and FLUORESCENT! They also offer a NON SKIN LINSEED INK which is the vegetable based alternative to the Stay Open Inks which also available in a multitude of colours plus process CYMK, both are cleanable with soap and water, white spirit or the washes below. It's also worth noting that a drop of cobalt driers may be needed to speed up the drying time if overlapping colours.

What I also really like is that they sell CITRI-WASH a citrus based cleaner for all oil based ink and safe to use in kitchens and also LINCOLN WASH which is just as easy to use as white spirit but much safer and according to the guy I spoke to doesn't smell and highly recommended for cleaning your rollers. If I hadn't already got my inks I would have liked to have tried these and if you have any questions they are very helpful, going to try the Lincoln wash then I won't keep stinking the house out with white spirit!

INK SUPPLIES IN THE UK

2009-09-15T14:30:00.006+01:00

Just added another supplier of letterpress ink in the UK to my Suppliers List (on the right hand side) http://www.greatart.co.uk/ who stock a German range of letterpress inks called GERSTAECKER which is a traditional oil based relief ink. Good range of colours in tins or tubes, they don't do the basic CYMK but if you got the COOL YELLOW, MAGENTA, COBALT BLUE, COOL BLACK, OPAQUE WHITE & TRANSPARENT EXTENDER that would be a good starting point for mixing colours. Developed for all types of relief printing it also suitable for Letterpress and polymer plates!

They also sell some water based lino printing inks that are interesting, one is a pearlescent and the other a transparent gloss, add a bit of sparkle to your Christmas cards or some SPOT UV to your artwork! I would imagine these would dry very fast so maybe hand inking your forme would be better.

ADANA QFB - Quarto Flat Bed

2009-09-09T21:14:00.009+01:00

I spotted this on eBay and just couldn't resist even though it's not a looker! It's an earlier model of the Adana QH. You can see more pics here on my flickr

After reading through John Ryder's Printing for Pleasure in which he talks about this machine I really fancied one, never thought I'd find one!! I should be able to print up to A4 size now with my wood letters and hopefully some lino cuts (when I get the time).

I have a mentor John who's a retired compositor who's helping me with my presses so I took my Kelsey and the Adana over for him to take a look at, the Kelsey's working like a dream and I was doing everything right but it took us a while to get a good impression on the Adana. We tried all the packing techniques it said in the manual, make ready, everything but just got inconsistent results until John came up with the idea of using some spongy old litho blanket and then an off cut of some vinyl cushion flooring (with the spongy side facing the type) which worked even better!

I printed this card for my friend (who by the way looks fabulous and not a day over 30) and I did a few extra to try in my shop when I finally decide on my name!

The manual for this press is available on Briar Press

Juicy colours from Khadi Paper

2009-09-05T00:18:00.004+01:00

I have working on a placement in Warrington for the Last 3 weeks and my computer has needed to go to the hospital and I've lots to blog about, so while I get organised and take photos here's some hot colours available from KHADI PAPERS in India. 100% cotton rag available in large sheets, A3, A4, A5 and A6 plus matching envelopes, lots of other tempting paper too. You can order online and postage to the UK is a flat £6.00 no matter how large your order!

My new logo?

2009-08-06T10:35:00.004+01:00

One idea (not finished just a quick make up) for my logo with a double meaning, most of my art will be with antique wooden letters and I will be using recycled or tree free card/paper. Any comments would be very welcome or should I go with BARNMEADOW LETTERPRESS as I live on Barnmeadow Lane. Hmmm!!

Messing around!

2009-08-06T09:30:00.012+01:00

I just love the POINTING FINGER, PRINTERS FIST or for the correct terminology MANICULES so just resist printing some A6 note cards while messing about and mixing inks. I've haven't got a Pantone Guide at the moment so it's just a case playing around and getting very dirty, should have taken a picture of myself I was covered in ink! Mixing Van Son Rubber based inks in large amounts isn't as easy as I thought but managed to get a nice duck egg blue (my favourite colour!) which printed nice on some recycled Hairy Manilla but was too dark on some Fabriano Rospina. I'm hoping to sell my letterpress wares but need a name for myself which is driving me crazy!

Are you making a good impression!

2009-07-25T02:15:00.002+01:00

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

2009-07-16T14:41:00.004+01:00

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

2009-07-15T12:16:00.002+01:00

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

2009-07-15T08:55:00.002+01:00

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

2009-07-10T16:58:00.004+01:00

Antique Woodletter Happy Birthday Card, originally uploaded by typoretum.

Lock up your forme

2009-07-10T16:57:00.006+01:00

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

2009-07-04T14:46:00.002+01:00

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

2009-07-04T01:31:00.002+01:00

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

2009-07-04T00:56:00.002+01:00

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

2009-07-04T00:33:00.001+01:00

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?

2009-07-01T21:27:00.001+01:00

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!

Paper & Card Suppliers

2009-06-29T13:18:00.001+01:00

Being a graphic designer I am obsessed by paper and card but frustrated by the lack of availability for letterpress in the UK and I still can't find a supplier of Cranes Lettra :( well not for the hobbyist). So as a troll through the web I've decided to make a list of my finds in the UK, you'll find it down the right hand side. IF ANYBODY OUT THERE KNOWS OF ANY GOOD PAPER/CARD SUPPLIES, LET ME KNOW and I'll add it to my list especially if its a little different!

SOMERSET 100% cotton
Falkners in London have a large range of bookbinding supplies and supply mail order and they also sell the acclaimed Somerset papers in large sheets plus lots of other printing paper, Colorplan, Bier, Ellie Poo, Chromolux just to name a few, all sold in large sheets. Lawrence Art Supplies have a good range of printmaking paper including Somerset and also tell you whether it's suitable for letterpress.

GF SMITH
Paper 2 Go is the retail division of GF Smith papers you can order online and they have a factory shop in Hull (no where near me!) Some very nice paper on here which is mostly available at Falkners but it is sold A4 and as card blanks if you haven't got the facilities to cut down large sheets. You can also get sample boards from GF Smith if you email them, they are also distributors of Crane's Lettra but don't sell to the general public, I think an email to Paper 2 Go in is order!

RECYCLED PAPER
There a couple in my list of online suppliers of recycled paper and card, Eco-Craft have a great range, Hairy Manilla (love the name) and Superior range seem to have a bit of give in them so I've ordered some samples to try out! They also sell card blanks and envelopes and have special offers on packs of discontinued stock.

GEMINI PRINTERS
Gemini sell traditional gilt/coloured edged cards, business card blanks, Colorplan, Chromolux and lots of other paper/card/envelopes too numerous to list and also offer a cutting and creasing service, best to download the product list to see the full list of products. This is now under new management and best to ring and check if they offer the same service

UPDATE there is now a link to paper in the supplies list on the right which is frequently updated

Restored Kelsey Excelsior 5x8

2009-06-15T14:40:00.001+01:00

Resored Kelsey Excelsior 01, originally uploaded by jacqui sharples.

My curveous Kelsey back to former glory!

Restored Kelsey Excelsior 5x8

2009-06-15T14:36:00.001+01:00

Restored Kelsey Excelsior 02, originally uploaded by jacqui sharples.

An easy way to apply gold to your raised letters is by using gilt cream on the end of your finger and rub over them

Restored Kelsey Excelsior 5x8

2009-06-15T14:35:00.002+01:00

RestoredKelsey Excelsior 03, originally uploaded by jacqui sharples.

Nice clean roller hooks!

Restoring your press

2009-06-15T12:52:00.003+01:00

I've finally done it! My Kelsey is now restored! With Uni commitments, 3 kids and freelance work it's taken me ages to finally get it done! Below are my restoration techniques if your in the same boat as me. I decided to restore my press to how it would have originally looked which was black and gold detailing. Kelseys of later date where Battleship Grey, more info on the http://excelsiorpress.org/. Mine is an early model N as the ink plate moves anti clockwise, on the later models they move clockwise.

CLEANING YOUR PRESS

Luckily my press was in fairly good condition by that I mean it was complete but exposed areas where rusty. Good old kitchen cleaner like CIF is great for cleaning but beware left on too long it will remove paint, this is what I wanted so I could get to all the underlying rust. Once you press is removed of all it dirt and grime you can paint it with HAMMERITE Direct to Rust Metal Paint, better not to use a grey primer because as the paint wears off it will come through and look nasty! I actually used Kurust first before painting, you paint the thin white liquid on the rust and after a few minutes it turns the rust black.

INK PLATES, PLATEN & CHASE BED

A good clean with some mineral spirits will sort out tiny specs of rust and with regular use of ink and white spirit on the ink plate will inhibit the rust. There are plenty of rust removing products on the market if yours are badly rusted but be careful with the ink plates as they shouldn't be sanded as you need a perfectly flat surface for your rollers to move over. I used FIRE BLACK on the back of my ink plate which gave a lovely finish but doesn't interfere with the cog mechanism.

ROLLER HOOKS & GRIPPER BARS

I used a rust removing dip to soak roller hooks, trucks, gripper bars, springs and all little nuts and bolts. You could also try a mixture of white vinegar and lemon juice which is supposed to work just as well. DO NOT PAINT THESE ITEMS especially the roller hooks as these need to be able to move freely a wipe over with white spirit then oil or an undustrial lubricant spray should keep them rust free, but don't put oil on your gripper bars as it will get on your paper!

GOLD RAISED LETTERS

A really easy way of gilding any raised letters on your press is to use some gilt cream on the end of your finger and just rub over the raised letters! EASY! beats a fiddly paintbrush!

PRODUCTS USED
Hammerite Kurust
Hammerite Direct to rust Meatl Paint in SATIN BLACK
Hammerite Rust Removing Dip
Liberon Gilt Cream in Chantilly

Montotype

2009-05-09T17:15:00.003+01:00

Bought a drawer full of this type off eBay which also contained a perpetual calendar which is huge! 72pt! but this has some dates Missing :( The type has been cast on a Monotype Supercaster, the grooves are there to save metal when casting. No idea what type face is yet but it's 48pt on a 60pt body. and complete U/L with numbers, symbols and punctuation. My posty didn't look that impressed carrying it up the garden path!

WOODTYPE

2009-05-02T16:00:00.003+01:00

I just couldn't believe my luck when I spotted this on eBay, pick up only and only 20 mins away from where I live, all for only £99. WHAT A BARGAIN! The cabinet need a little work, another thing to add to "my to do list", but who cares. There's a total of eleven type faces which are all complete, and three drawers full of logos, honeycomb bases for magnesium plates and some bits of lead type. Better get on with my restoration then I can use them!

KELSEY EXCELSIOR 5x8 before restoration

2009-04-17T15:03:00.000+01:00

I found this wonderful American letterpress for sale in Fife, Scotland on eBay and just had to buy it! I had been looking at buying an ADANA as they are the most common in the UK but just resist the history that came with the press and its so much nicer to look at than the ADANA (sorry Adana fans).
It came in a wooden crate and wrapped in newspapers dated April 6th 1915 and an old tin and box with some goodies along with 15 chases made up with type. What did I pay you ask, well it was £150 with some other bits thrown in (10pt Time Bold U/L, 10pt Time U/L, 14pt Imprint Shadow U/L, composing rule, spacers quads etc), not bad as Adana are going for silly money now.
One of the downside to buying an American press is that the parts will cost me more but fortunately for me everything is intact apart from the rollers which amazingly I got off eBay in the UK! http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Bakers-Row. Rex at Bakers Row Shop said the Kelsey is a very rare press to find in the UK, would be nice to know how it found its way to Fife!
I have debated as to what extent to restore the press, do I repaint it or not? On closer inspection there is quite alot of surface rust on the body so I've decided to paint it just where there it needs it. The Ink Plate, Platen and Platen Back all are in really good condition with no rust.

KELSEY EXCELSIOR 8x5 BEFORE RESTORATION

2009-04-17T14:43:00.000+01:00

One of the chases that came with the press

2009-04-17T14:34:00.002+01:00

Stephenson Blake Old Style Grotesqe

2009-04-17T14:08:00.002+01:00

One of the home made wooden chases with a fabulous advertisement for the local store where the printer originally came from. After a bit of research the type face at the top "THE BEST FOOTWEAR" I found was created by the Stephenson Blake Foundry at Sheffield in 1879. Thanks to Ben at http://www.britishletterpress.co.uk/ for checking in an SB catologue and verifying this for me.

The chases are very delicate, being made of wood it is starting to contract and the lead type is falling out. So one of my next jobs (besides tightening the screws on the chase) is to print the chases asap as there is only so much locking up can be done before they crack!

Pressed tin

2009-04-17T13:58:00.003+01:00

I found a couple of pressed tin badges, well at least that what I think they but if anyone knows anymore, let me know!

The goodies that came with my press

2009-04-17T13:15:00.004+01:00

The fabulous Silk box contains some rather crude carved pricing numbers of which there some are in a home made wooden chase.

The chases that came with my press

2009-04-17T12:32:00.003+01:00