Letterpress 1: The Basics of Printing

Letterpress 1 is a beginner-friendly introduction to the centuries-old craft of printing with metal type. Students will be given a printing demonstration using our tabletop C&P Pilot press, then will compose metal type using one or two sentences of their own writing, or a favorite pithy quote. They will be walked through the process of proofreading and “locking up” their type, inking the press, and making adjustments based on test prints. Then, each student will print copies to keep and exchange with fellow participants. Throughout the class-time stories will be shared, arcane knowledge revealed, and you will simmer in the alchemy of using your hands to create a physical form of your thoughts.