We acquired our letterpress in 2010. Prior to that, Julie only need to offer high quality digital printing in-house. But in 2010 Julie had not one but two requests for wedding invitations to be letterpress printed. This was a first for us and these requests happened close together. With values aligned in keeping printing and production in-house, it was time to shop for a letterpress. Where do you buy a letterpress? Our story became an example of what is meant to be. David mentioned our challenge to just one person - that one person's father new a guy right here in Denver. The search was over before it really even began!
We noticed something profound our first year in trials and tribulations printing projects on an old machine. The sounds!
We found ourselves enamored with each sound. To be precise, we missed the sounds when we went home at night! Each moving part in the well-oiled machine makes a distinct repetitive sound. Some are friction. Some are clicks. Individually they tell a story, together the sounds are timeless rhythms of an old fashioned printing process so relevant today.
Our guests at the stationery boutique who witness the old press in motion have many of the same comments. Sound is one of them. Young kids and dogs are mesmerized. It's relaxing. So this begs the question - why not share the sounds as an ASMR studio? It was not our idea. A new and insightful connection on Treads made the suggestion.
ASMR stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response and is described as a combination of positive feelings and a static-like tingling sensation on the skin. The experience can bring relaxation, euphoria, and a sense of well-being, and is sometimes compared to auditory-tactile synesthesia or frisson
What if our press did the talking: "Miss Hazel" is a 1930’s Chandler and Price Platen Press 10” x 15” with a beautiful flywheel. ASMR fans to stationery lovers and print enthusiasts can subscribe to The Letterpress ASMR Studio on YouTube.
The sounds:
- Overall mechanical elements of the press i.e. each moving part
- Rollers Inking the Press
- Setting the plate in the chase
- Registration & Pins
- Packing and test prints
- Printing
The visual:
- The flywheel
- The ink plate
- The rollers
- The hydraulics
- The gears
History of Letterpress
- Invented in the mid-15th century by Johannes Gutenburg with the creation of old
movable type and a wooden printing press
- Primary printing method used from the mid-15th century until the 19th century
- Everything from newspapers, books and flyers we printed on letterpress
- Back in the day impression was not the goal. Their goal was “kiss” print where today we
love a “deboss”
- In the 20th century offset printing developed followed by digital which replaced
letterpress
- Letterpress made a huge revival beginning in the 1990’s
- Beauty and Texture
- Uniqueness of the Product
- Standout Marketing Collateral
Ways to Print on Letterpress
Old Ways to Print on Press
- Metal Type and Setting Type
- Old Wood Engravings
New Ways begin with computerized files which are submitted to create plates
- Magnesium Metal Plates
- Copper Metal Plates
- Plastic Photo Polymer Plates
- Old Type is still used and can be recast
Ink
- Each color is laid down separately
- Ink is based off of the Pantone color system
- Typically 1-3 colors is used
Why the “Love Affair” with Letterpress?
- A crisper print can be achieved then with other printing method
- The tactile impression
- Thick cotton and fiber based stocks
- At Idea Chíc we also use unique materials: Wood veneer, cork, handmade paper and fabric.
