Handmade Letterpress!

[meghan]

What is the general FPN sentiment on letterpress greetings and notecards? The trouble with letterpress is that the thick, fluffy papers that provide the beautiful deep impression which makes letterpress so attractive just don't handle fountain pen ink well. In fact, they handle it quite terribly as it bleeds profusely, making a huge mess of the card.

 

Nevertheless, as you, dear reader, are so likely to enjoy written correspondence, is a letterpress greeting or a short note something that you can suffer a gel pen for?

 

I ask because I have picked up a new hobby in making letterpress stationery. I have designed a number of plates and am experimenting not only with the traditional medium (fluffy Crane cotton Lettra) but also a kraft stock which, while sacrificing the depth of impression, gives the cards a cool nostalgic feel. I completely understand the expense of letterpress cards on Etsy and in specialty shops now: it is time consuming, labor intensive, more art than science, and materials get expensive very quickly. Still, it is a reverential and humbling experience to use a press that has changed little since Gutenberg's day. What a way to pay tribute to one of the most incredible technologies of all time... and to make a lovely piece of stationery while you're at it!

 

Assuming letterpress floats anyone's boat, what types of designs do you like? Do you prefer flat cards or folded? I would love your suggestions!

 

Here are a few of my designs. Forgive the snarky last card.

 

http://browndogpaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/DSC_0975.jpg

 

http://browndogpaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Image-6.jpg

 

http://browndogpaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Image-16.jpg

 

http://browndogpaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/DSC_0988.jpg

 

http://browndogpaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DSC_1024.jpg

 

http://browndogpaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DSC_1038.jpg

 

http://browndogpaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DSC_1043.jpg

[P.A.R.]

The last one made me chuckle. Nice job!

[betsypreston]

I love the elegance of old-school letterpress printed cards with snappy/irreverent/impertinent/foul-mouthed sayings. I was gonna say bright colors, but I like the more subdued colors too.

 

I looove old tymey mariner engraving style octopuses. I've found a few, but they're not exactly a hot item.

[grout]

I really like your designs! They are simple but eye-catching. :clap1: The automobile and motorcycle cards remind me of my mother's miniature car collection from when I was little. I quite enjoy the last card as well and would totally send out to my friends to make them laugh (though probably not to my grandmother!)

[betsypreston]

My letterpress instructor tells me that guys who printed for a living think that an embossed impression is the height of bad. They strove for the lightest kiss of the press that would leave a sharp image.

 

I looove the embossed look, but can't help but wonder if an old timer rolls over in his grave every time I crank one thru the press.

 

I can't verify her story. But I can't get it out of my head, either.

[linearM]

I'm a printmaker and have been using Revere silk finish paper for my wood engravings. I was just trying my pens on it and found that it has sort of a soft feel to write on but the ink doesn't feather and I've used flex nibs and fine nib pens. I tried a dip pen and found that it didn't like the surface but it was an extra fine nib that caught on the upstroke. I purchased a ream of Wausau Paper's Astroparche from the local print shop and am using that for my stationery. I'm using white which actually looks offwhite. I know they also have a card weight in the same paper so that might be a possibility. Nideggen is another possibility. It is a laid paper with a beautiful pattern held up to the light. It has a raw sort of yellow greenish color...it looks like some renaissance sheet. I've been using a dip pen on it and it works beautifully. There is a difference in surface on the two sides. Look to your art supply store for these papers, not a hobby shop.

 

Daniel Smith Art Materials in Seattle has a printmaking paper sampler that would allow you to try 32 different types of printmaking papers and would allow you to test out papers for some you might find useful.

 

I print my wood engravings and linoleum cuts on a Challenge Proof Press. I have a type cabinet with a drawer of ding bats and a range of fonts of moveable type, but haven't really put them to use yet. What type of press are you using? Drop me an PM if you would like me to send you a sampling of the papers I've mentioned.

Edited April 6, 2012 by linearM

[Wjones7412]

Wow. This stuff is cool. Great work

[pen2paper]

very cool! I have a small collection of old dies, and was hoping to put them to use.. perhaps using a brayer.

think I'm gathering here the results will be less than desirable without a press?

[htom]

Lord, this takes me back. Yes, just kiss the paper. The only reason to use more pressure than that is because your paper isn't flat and evenly thick. Well, there could be problems with the press itself, but ideally it's just a slight kiss. More and you might have to fight with the press to get the sheet out of the press. And you risk damaging the type.

 

Artists ... they can do what they please. The cards are cute.

[USMCMom]

Love the last card! :ltcapd:

[kazoolaw]

I'm no printer, but have used a number of letter-pressed cards without the problems you describe.

 

May I suggest trying another paper?

 

gary

 

ps - great cards

Edited April 6, 2012 by gary

[meghan]

The last one made me chuckle. Nice job!

 

Thanks! Haha, that was designed with a couple of my very awesome friends in mind. :roflmho:

 

I love the elegance of old-school letterpress printed cards with snappy/irreverent/impertinent/foul-mouthed sayings. I was gonna say bright colors, but I like the more subdued colors too.

 

I looove old tymey mariner engraving style octopuses. I've found a few, but they're not exactly a hot item.

 

Great idea. I've seen a couple real antique printers blocks move through eBay. I've also seen some of those steampunk-inspired newer designs that I could model something after. I hate the idea of just taking a design and firing it off to be cut -- if it were my design and I turned up someone making something out of it, I'd be a little put out, so I'd hate to do that to someone else. If I design something within the next few weeks, I'd love to send you the image to get your feedback!

 

My letterpress instructor tells me that guys who printed for a living think that an embossed impression is the height of bad. They strove for the lightest kiss of the press that would leave a sharp image.

 

I looove the embossed look, but can't help but wonder if an old timer rolls over in his grave every time I crank one thru the press.

 

I can't verify her story. But I can't get it out of my head, either.

 

I took a class at the local print shop and was told the same thing. But, when that rule was golden, I'm guessing it would have been broken for the sake of papers like Lettra! It's just such an elegant look, and with soft papers like that, poses no threat of damaging your plates. I'd love to see some of the things you've done!

 

I'm a printmaker and have been using Revere silk finish paper for my wood engravings. I was just trying my pens on it and found that it has sort of a soft feel to write on but the ink doesn't feather and I've used flex nibs and fine nib pens. I tried a dip pen and found that it didn't like the surface but it was an extra fine nib that caught on the upstroke. I purchased a ream of Wausau Paper's Astroparche from the local print shop and am using that for my stationery. I'm using white which actually looks offwhite. I know they also have a card weight in the same paper so that might be a possibility. Nideggen is another possibility. It is a laid paper with a beautiful pattern held up to the light. It has a raw sort of yellow greenish color...it looks like some renaissance sheet. I've been using a dip pen on it and it works beautifully. There is a difference in surface on the two sides. Look to your art supply store for these papers, not a hobby shop.

 

Daniel Smith Art Materials in Seattle has a printmaking paper sampler that would allow you to try 32 different types of printmaking papers and would allow you to test out papers for some you might find useful.

 

I print my wood engravings and linoleum cuts on a Challenge Proof Press. I have a type cabinet with a drawer of ding bats and a range of fonts of moveable type, but haven't really put them to use yet. What type of press are you using? Drop me an PM if you would like me to send you a sampling of the papers I've mentioned.

 

Awesome information! I had given up on the idea of FP-friendly paper! PM on its way, and I will order a sampler from Daniel Smith Art Materials today.

 

I am using a tabletop Adana Eight Five, which is a baby compared to some of the old, elegant workhorses other folks are lucky enough to use -- I'd give my arm for a nice cylinder press like yours, but then I'd just have to give the other one for a space large enough for it.

 

You should dig out some nifty ding bats and make some notecards that tolerate fountain pen ink. Somewhere within the overlaps of "likes letterpress" and "uses fountain pens" on Venn diagram, you'd have a very small but very happy target market!

[meghan]

Wow. This stuff is cool. Great work

 

Thanks!

 

 

very cool! I have a small collection of old dies, and was hoping to put them to use.. perhaps using a brayer.

think I'm gathering here the results will be less than desirable without a press?

 

Most likely, buuuut... You could always build a very inexpensive press that would achieve nicer results than a brayer:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-a-Letterpress-%26-Use-It-to-Print-Things/

http://www.instructables.com/id/Makeshift-letterpress-with-a-cuttlebug-Part-One/

 

Or, if you want a fun way to spend a Saturday, find a print shop near you that does letterpress classes. I took a workshop for Valentine's Day and had a ball. The class and copious amounts of reading enabled me to buy a press and start printing on day 1. I have a ridiculous amount to learn, but I know enough at this point to really have some fun.

 

I'd love to see your old printer's blocks. I've turned up some neat things now that I've started looking for them.

 

Lord, this takes me back. Yes, just kiss the paper. The only reason to use more pressure than that is because your paper isn't flat and evenly thick. Well, there could be problems with the press itself, but ideally it's just a slight kiss. More and you might have to fight with the press to get the sheet out of the press. And you risk damaging the type.

 

Artists ... they can do what they please. The cards are cute.

 

The papers I've been using are soft enough to prevent damage to the press, and my custom-designed plates are photopolymer, so if they suffer any damage, I can just have another cut! I do tend to be a little nervous about the couple of vintage blocks I have - there'd be no reclaiming them if I ruined them, and that would just break my heart.

 

Love the last card! :ltcapd:

 

Hehe thanks!

 

I'm no printer, but have used a number of letter-pressed cards without the problems you describe.

 

May I suggest trying another paper?

 

gary

 

ps - great cards

 

I absolutely will. I'd love to be able to use my fountain pens on cards I've printed. I'm glad to know it's possible. The search for the perfect paper begins... And thank you!

Edited April 6, 2012 by meghan

[GreenVelvet]

I love letterpress. I've had decent luck finding some that take fountain pen ink just fine. I'm not a printer, and I don't know the kind of paper, but the only trouble I have is with really fine nibs. So I just stick to mediums and well-behaved inks, and sometimes it's fine.

 

I know that Crane letterpress paper has usually been OK.

[meghan]

I love letterpress. I've had decent luck finding some that take fountain pen ink just fine. I'm not a printer, and I don't know the kind of paper, but the only trouble I have is with really fine nibs. So I just stick to mediums and well-behaved inks, and sometimes it's fine.

 

I know that Crane letterpress paper has usually been OK.

 

Figures. I write with nothing but fine nibs and misbehaved inks.

[Keyser]

oh man, the last one is great

[watch_art]

I did this a bit last year, over the summer. Kept pretty busy with it but don't have time during the school year.

Lots of fun.

Printed on clairefontaine and that 32# HP laser jet paper, or whatever the customer wants. No problem unless you use crazy bad inks.

 

http://coffeegrinderpress.com/letterhead.html

[PENitent]

For my woodblock prints I use a dictionary or two to get a nice even pressure, but use textured paper so get a little bit of character to the lines. The local art store has a speedball press for $70 that is a reasonable price and might buy one.

 

I've got a few things up on etsy right now and just finished carving a Pennsylvania dutch hex sign that I'm going to hand tint.

[Laura N]

Cool. Great start, I think. And I love letterpress. I use folded notes, not flat cards.

 

One concern of mine always is the quality of the envelope. I don't like it when a nice quality note is paired with a thin, lower quality envelope.

 

I have used letterpress stationery from Paper Source and from Crane and have never noticed a problem using fountain pens. Of course, YMMV.

[htom]

Towards the end of this thread there are several schemes for folding envelopes.