What Is Letterpress Printing? Learn More About This Printing Method
Letterpress printing is a technique where you apply ink to a raised surface and then directly press that surface onto your paper. To learn more about this important printing process, click on the following sections.
If you are looking for professionally-crafted letterpress printing, contact us.
Letterpress Printing
1. What is Letterpress Printing?
Letterpress printing is a technique where you apply ink to a raised surface and then directly press that surface onto your paper. It allows you to make many copies of the same text or image and is similar to using a rubber stamp.
Letterpress printing is sometimes referred to as typographic or relief printing. It is considered a craft because it is done by hand and requires skill to perform.
Traditional letterpress printing strived to lightly touch or "kiss" the paper so that there was no impression or indentation left on the paper. The goal was to simply transfer the ink onto the surface without leaving a sign that type was pressed onto the surface.
Today, however, many printers like to leave an impression of the type so that it distinctly shows that it was printed with the letterpress technique.
Letterpress is a similar process to rubber stamping
2. What Is Letterpress Printing Used for?
Because of its crisp appearance and great visual definition, letterpress makes a beautiful option for printing the following:
Upscale wedding invitations
Other types of special occasion invitations
Greeting cards and more
Letterpress is a great option for upscale invitations
3. How Is Letterpress Printing Done?
Traditional letterpress printing is done in a number of stages as follows.
1. Typsetting:
The first stage in letterpress printing is called typesetting. This is where pieces of movable type are put together to form your desired text. The typesetter will place each letter, side by side, line by line. Once a page of text is complete, the type is tied together so that it doesn't fall apart.
2. Proofing:
The text is then proofread to make sure that the page is accurate.
3. Imposition:
The tied pages of text are then converted into a form (or forme) that can be used on the press. The person who does the imposition is known as a stonehand or a stoneman.
Lower height pieces of metal or wood are added to the blank spaces of the page. The printer will use a mallet to make sure that only the tops of the raised type will come into contact with the paper.
Letterpress printing requires a number of special tools
4. Lock-up:
The binding cords that are holding the type together are then removed and the entire block of text is locked into place.
5. Printing:
Different presses require different processes to operate. Some types of presses need two people to run. One person needs to ink the type and the other person operates the press. Mechanized presses only need one person to feed in the paper and then remove it.
The following is a great video from the William Morris Gallery in London that gives you a great visual tour of what is involved in letterpress printing.
Watch the letterpress print process
4. The History of Letterpress Printing
The earliest form of letterpress printing was done in China prior to 868 A.D. using panels of wooden blocks that were hand-carved in reverse. Ink was applied to these blocks and they were in turn pressed onto paper.
By 970 A.D. this early form of letterpress printing was replaced by moveable type printing which used baked clay blocks that formed individual letters that could be re-used for different texts.
The invention of the Gutenberg press in 1450 revolutionalized and refined letterpress printing with its metal pieces that fit uniformly together and created perfectly straight lines and columns.
To learn more about the complete history of letterpress printing, check out our article called "The Printing Press Invention | History, Important Dates, & Facts."
Letterpress evolved over time from using wood to metal type
5. The Decline of Letterpress Printing
By the 1970s letterpress printing had largely been replaced by more modern printing forms including offset printing and digital printing. These newer methods were faster and more economical making them more commercially viable. As a result, several letterpress print shops were forced to adapt or close down.
Modern printing methods replaced letterpress in the 1970s
6. The Revival of Letterpress Printing
Letterpress printing is currently enjoying a much-deserved revival in Canada, the United States, and Great Britain. The thought of having something that has been printed using hand-set type is very appealing. The revival of this beautiful craft is due to a number of factors including:
Martha Stewart's Wedding Magazine:
One reason for the renewed interest in letterpress is due in part to the influence of Martha Stewart's Wedding magazine which started to feature pictures of beautiful letterpress wedding invitations. The magazine highlighted the fact that couples take great care when choosing their perfect wedding stationery so why not choose letterpress as their printing method to provide extra beauty and texture to their chosen design.
Teaching the Craft:
The revival of the craft of letterpress printing has also been aided by a number of educational institutions that now offer courses in letterpress printing such as:
More Economical Plates:
In addition, the development of more affordable copper, magnesium, photopolymer plates as well as milled aluminum bases have made it possible to design various types and images that come from digital artwork, scans, and modern fonts.
Letterpress is enjoying a well-deserved revival
7. Where to Get Letterpress Printing Done
If you are looking for letterpress printing done by highly-skilled craftsmen, contact JH French.
JH French is a printing company that has been in business for over 120 years! We are a family-owned and operated business. The current owner’s father and grandfather all worked in printing.
We offer a wide range of printing products and services including letterpress for individuals, unions and businesses, large and small, across Hamilton, Ontario, and throughout all of Canada.
We will closely work with you to determine your wants, needs, and budget, and we help you get top-quality printing products every time.
To learn more, contact us now.
What our customers are saying…
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“Excellent experience, have used them for about a year. Always clarifying info, always meets deadline[s], manages expectation[s] and quality printing products. Will continue to use them! Very friendly and professional.”