Letterpress printing service

Letterpress is a type of relief print where traditionally wooden or metal type and carved blocks were used along with a printing press to create a repeated printed impression. These days the use of polymer plates allows for more innovation in design, however, many of the presses themselves remain in their original condition and the technique remains largely unchanged.

My press is a beautiful Arab Crown Folio manufactured in 1898 by Josiah Wade in Halifax and restored in January 2020 by The Logan Press. Fondly named Arabella, she is a treadle-operated Clamshell platen press.

Much of the cost of letterpress is in the production of the printing plates and the set up of the print. Below are the steps required to set up and print a single colour image.

1. Ink is mixed by hand.

2. The ink is transferred to the press and using a treadle mechanised action the ink is spread evenly across the inking disk and the rollers.

3. The plate is attached to the press and test prints are done whilst manually adjusting position and pressure in order to find the perfect alignment and impression on the paper.

4. Using the mechanised action of the treadle causes the rollers to pass over the inking disk and then the plate. A sheet of paper is placed on the press and the mechanised action brings the sheet into contact with the inked plate. Each sheet to be printed is passed through the press in this rhythmic way.

5. Lastly, the ink is manually cleaned off the plate, rollers and inking disk.

Letterpress only allows for the printing of one colour at a time with each colour requiring its own separate plate and all the steps listed above. You can also only print one side at a time and each side also requires its own separate plate and all the above steps. This is worth bearing in mind as multiple colours and double sided printing can significantly increase the cost. It is also the reason why letterpress is more cost affective with larger print runs and not ideally suited to one off single or very small print runs.

Unlike many other printers (and with some exceptions), I print exclusively on my own handmade paper. As both the papermaker and the printer, I have been able to develop a deep understanding of how best to work with this unique surface. There is also the added benefit of reducing the travel mileage of the paper when it happens to be made and printed in the same studio.

Because of the natural and perfectly imperfect characteristics of handmade paper, there are a number of things that need consideration. Due to the fluffy deckled edges, it is impossible to achieve perfect alignment. This needs bearing in mind when creating designs. For example, with multiple colours it’s unlikely that the two plates will line up perfectly – I recommend creating designs that don't need the colours in perfect alignment. It is also worth bearing in mind that designs which include borders that are close to the edges of the paper may appear more obviously off centre than designs with more space around the edges. I am happy to look over any designs and provide guidance if needed.

1. Artwork must be supplied as a vector. (Artwork created in Photoshop or Canva will not be suitable as you cannot create vectors using this software)

2. Make sure your document is in CMYK mode. All artwork should be in CMYK Black, CMY=0 and K=100%.

3. Recommended minimum line width is 0.35pt, also applies to the finer areas of type (watch those serif fonts!).

4. For dots, a 1.25pt diameter is recommended.

5. Outline all fonts – I may not have your fonts on my system so you will have to convert them to paths/vectors to retain their style.

6. If your design includes multiple colours, you will need to provide each colour as separate files - each will be made into its own plate.

7. For each plate design, make sure every element of the design is grouped together within the file – sometimes the platemakers need to move the design around when preparing the files.

8. Artwork must be supplied as a PDF; one for each plate and in the correct size.

I am happy to check over your designs and offer guidance before sending them to the platemakers. I also offer a basic design service with an additional fee for anyone who needs some extra help preparing their artwork for plate making.

You will need to be able to supply the file as a vector in order for me to be able to edit your artwork. I would also recommend outlining any fonts as well as I may not have the same fonts on my software. In some cases (and depending on the style of artwork) it may be possible for me to vectorize it for you.

Please be aware that I am not offering a fully comprehensive design service. If you are unable to provide artwork in the correct file format or if much of the guidance above seems like another language, then I recommend you hire a designer to create your artwork and supply the files.

Orders can be placed by using the ‘place order’ submission form.

When I have received your order submission form I will email you an invoice and payment is via bank transfer (or PayPal for international customers). I will also allocate a slot for you in the batch production schedule.

Please be aware that you have 48 hours to pay the deposit to secure your slot in the batch production schedule. Batches are scheduled on a ‘first come first serve’ basis from payment of the invoice and a delay in payment may result in a longer lead time due to the reallocation of your slot.

All orders will be shipped fully insured and with a tracking service. The cost of shipping is dependent upon the size of your order. A shipping and handling fee will be included in any invoices and on quotes where a shipping location has been provided.

UK orders - 1-3 days

International orders 1-3 weeks (depending on location)