Individual cast metal characters arranged into formes, locked into a press, and impressed onto dampened paper.
Tiny metal letters are lined up like a sentence, inked, and stamped onto paper.
- ▸Each letter is a little metal block. You arrange them in a tray to spell words.
- ▸Ink the letters, lay paper on top, and squeeze with a press.
- ▸When you're done you take the letters apart and use them again for the next page.
History
Bi Sheng invented ceramic movable type around 1040 in China. Johannes Gutenberg's metal type and screw press in 1440s Mainz industrialised the form, enabling the printed book economy. Today letterpress thrives as a craft for stationery and limited editions.
Process
- 01
Compose text by hand or via Linotype, line by line.
- 02
Lock the forme into a chase with quoins and furniture.
- 03
Ink the type using a brayer or automatic rollers.
- 04
Feed dampened cotton paper into the press.
- 05
Strike with platen, cylinder or hand press to leave a deep bite.
Strengths
- +Crisp, deep impression
- +Archival permanence
- +Beautiful tactile finish
Limitations
- −Slow setup
- −Limited illustration
- −Heavy equipment
Sources & citations
References for the history and process described above.
- 01Johannes Gutenberg and the Printing Press — British Library
- 02Printing — History of Movable Type — Encyclopædia Britannica