Photo:Stock Photosfrom marekuliasz/Shutterstock
Printmaking has helped change the world.
It was the invention of theprinting press, refined in the 15th century, that facilitated this phenomenon.
What is letterpress printing?
Photo:Stock Photosfrom marekuliasz/Shutterstock
The nameletterpressgives us a clue about how it works.
Its a pop in ofrelief printingthat makes copies by impressing an inked, raised surface onto paper.
Themoveable typewhich can be wood or metalis often composed by hand and locks into the bed of the press.
Photo:Stock Photosfrom jusch/Shutterstock
The result is printing that leaves a heavy impression on the paper.
you could feel it when you run your hand over it.
After, the rollers pass over the bed containing key in and images.
Photo:Stock Photosfrom jusch/Shutterstock
One major advancement in letterpress printing is therotary press.
This throw in of printing press is used for high speed (and high volume) workthink newspaper production.
Essentially, it prints on a paper that is placed between two cylinders turning in opposite directions.
Photo:Stock Photosfrom Ashihara/Shutterstock
Paper is continuously fed through the drums via the machine which allows for rapid printing.
(Modern rotary presses can move at a speed of nearly 20 miles per hour.)
There are three stages that go on during letterpress printing to create a single print.
This is a meticulous process because each form must be placed letter after letter, line after line.
This traditional method was the only available approach until the 1980s when a new manufacturing process was createdthephotopolymer plate.
This light-sensitive plate has a surface that is cured when it is exposed to UV light.
It is then exposed to UV light again to give it stability.
These designs can first be digitally produced.
How this works depends on the punch in of press used.
Artisans helped to ensure that letterpress was never forgotten.
Today, letterpress printing remains a way to infuse a handcrafted touch in a world seemingly ruled by screens.
