Letterpress printing is a form of relief printing introduced to Europe in 1450 by Johannes Gutenberg. Although moveable type systems had been used previously, Gutenberg’s innovations removed the enormous amount of labour involved in manipulating individual characters.
For centuries after Gutenberg’s invention hand-set metal type was the industry standard, but with the advent of the Linotype machine in the late 1800s it soon fell out of favour. Modern ‘craft’ letterpress has experienced a resurgence in recent years as designers and hobbyists rediscover the beauty of hand-set type.
A good press, such as a Chandler & Price platen press from the 1880s-1950s can cost upwards of $3,000. The letterpress process is fairly basic when compared to other modern print methods, but the execution requires a high degree of craftsmanship.
Whilst classic letterpress employs moveable metal type, some modern ‘digital letterpress’ systems use photopolymer platemakers and milled aluminium bases to create the print relief. At the same time there has been a renaissance in small-scale type foundries to produce new metal type on Monotype and Thompson casters.
All letterpress work is produced in spot colours, printed one at a time. It’s printing’s strengths are crisp lines, patterns, and typography, hence most artwork being vector based. Screening inks to produce colour tints is not recommended and usually a second colour is used instead. The depth of the impression left by the press is adjustable, but also dependant on paper choice.
Links:
www.boxcarpress.com
britishletterpress.co.uk
www.fiveroses.org
www.briarpress.org
