LETTERPRESS - Saddleback College

what is letterpress printing?
“Letterpress is one of the oldest and most beautiful
printing techniques and dates back to the invention
of the movable type by Johann Gutenberg. It began
as an alternative to laborious hand-written
calligraphy. Metal plates with the images raised are
inked
and then pressed against soft, cotton paper.
Type was hand-cast and individual characters were
hand-set into lines until machine set composition
made the process easier. This technique is almost a
form of art rather than science as no 2 pieces are
exactly
alike. Because the paper is run through an
antique press dating back to the 1800s, each pieces
is subtly unique. Today, not only do letters appear
crisp on the heavy cotton paper, but you can feel
the recessed texture around the type. This is a
distinctive characteristic of letterpressing. From the
look and feel of each piece, it stands out among
other printing types found today.”
Pistachio Hill Letterpress Studio