Letterpress I: Wood & Metal Type, Begins 5/3

Letterpress printing uses moveable type cast from metal or carved into wood and a mechanical press to crisply transfer ink to paper. This class uses multiple projects to familiarize students with basic letterpress and typography history, terminology, and practices. The class will begin with hand setting linear type to make business cards, note cards, stationary, etc. Students will then continue to use both independent and collaborative projects to acquire the technical skills needed to safely use a variety of presses, including setting type, distributing type, inking the press, color matching, adjusting pressure, registering paper, making an impression and cleaning the press.

Letterpress I: Movable Type + Polymer Plates

Letterpress printing has been making an impression since 1440 when Gutenberg invented movable type. Letterpress printing creates a tactile and inviting debossment in paper by using a mechanical press to prints from metal or wood type. This “punch” makes letterpress a popular choice for greeting cards, business cards, invitations, broadsides, and a wide range of printed ephemera. While it began as a commercial process, artists, designers, typographers and illustrators are continually finding new ways to approach the art form.

Letterpress: Movable Type + Polymer Plates introduces both traditional handset type AND polymer plates. Polymer plates allow artists to print from digital designs (illustrations, text, and even photographs) and can be made in house or ordered online.

Students will develop foundational skills by using a composing stick to hand set lines of types. From there, projects will introduce more technical considerations as well as creative approaches to printing. Students will learn to learn to lock-up type, prepare digital files for print, create polymer plates, set pressure, mix and modify ink and (maybe most importantly) safely operate our machines.

Throughout the class students will acquire the technical skills to be authorized to print independently at Spudnik Press and the creative skills to produce inventive and alluring prints for years to come.

Letterpress II: Polymer (WI2015)

This class will begin where Letterpress I: Wood and Metal Type leaves off. Students will jump right into working with polymer plates, which allow artists to print their own design, and set type digitally. The class will cover all aspects of printing with polymer plates, including design, pre-press, developing plates, and printing. This class will also investigate two-color registration, double-sided printing, and other skills that arise based on each student’s projects. The goal is for students to graduate from the class having versatile knowledge of letterpress printing.

NEW 4-WEEK FORMAT:
We condensed our polymer class to four weeks, allowing more students to add this method of image-making and printing to their skill set.

Letterpress II: Polymer

This class will begin where Letterpress I: Wood and Metal Type leaves off. Students will jump right into working with polymer plates, which allow artists to print their own design, and set type digitally. The class will cover all aspects of printing with polymer plates, including design, pre-press, developing plates, and printing. This class will also investigate two-color registration, double-sided printing, and other skills that arise based on each student’s projects. The goal is for students to graduate from the class having versatile knowledge of letterpress printing.

NEW 4-WEEK FORMAT:
Beginning in the fall of 2014, we are condensing our polymer class to four weeks, allowing more students to add this method of image-making and printing to their skill set. Letterpress Finesse will be offered in early 2015 for students looking to fine tune their skills and tackle larger projects.

Letterpress II: Polymer

This class will begin where Letterpress I: Wood and Metal Type leaves off. Students will jump right into working with polymer plates, which allow artists to print their own design, and digitally-set type. The class will cover all aspects of printing with polymer plates, including design, pre-press, developing plates, and printing. This class will also introduce 2-color registration and double-sided printing. The goal is for students to graduate from the class having versatile knowledge of letterpress printing.

Vandercook SP-25 Authorization Workshop (June 20)

Spudnik Press Cooperative has a new press! And it’s BIG:

Vandercook SP-25:
Max Sheet Size: 24 ½ × 28″
Max Form Size: 24 × 26″

In addition to the press, we were able to also acquire:

6 drawers of woodtype, various fonts and sizes
A huge boxcar base for printing with polymer plates

To help our printers get familiar with (and authorized for) the press, we are offering one-day workshops that will review:

• Project planning for larger-format printing.
• Perfect registration.
• Changing pressure and adding packing.
• Proper inking.
• Thorough cleaning.
• Long-term press care.

All participants must already be authorized for the Vandercook 4 (for example, by completing our Letterpress I: Wood & Metal Type class). This workshop will not teach letterpress printing from the beginning, but is instead focused on the particulars of this exact press. Working collaboratively, participants will be able to set type, ink the press, print, clean, and each take home a fun (large-scale) group project.

Sign up today to print big AND avoid the Vandercook #4 scheduling competition!