Process Taster: Letterpress

Description

Learn to print letterpress! This 4 hour ‘taster’ session is a short introduction into the letterpress printing process, where you’ll get to understand all the basics of setting and printing wood and lead type, perfect for those looking to create posters, books, greetings stationery or even hand-printed labels for products!

During the workshop you will set a simple phrase in metal or wood type and print it on a large Imperial Press, Stephenson Blake Proofing Press or the humble Adana Press depending on what best suits your needs. The workshop will give you an overview of the stages required to produce a letterpress print which will include:

– Typesetting

– Locking up

– Units and measurements used in letterpress printing

– Kerning & letter spacing

– Mixing inks & inking

You will have access to 50+ cases of wood & metal type in a range of sizes.

You will go away with a better understanding of the letterpress process and a number of prints of your phrase.

Your tutor: Nick Loaring

Nick Loaring is a letterpress printer based in the small northern town of Shipley in West Yorkshire. Here he operates a vast array of ancient printing equipment and movable type to create striking printing as The Print Project. He is co-publisher of Double Dagger an acclaimed magazine about letterpress printing. His work has been published in Computer Arts, Pressing Matters, Creative Review, Eye Magazine, Random Spectacular, Matrix and The Skinny. He’s worked with Golden Cabinet, Hiut Denim, Magic Rock, Glastonbury Festival, The Leaf Label and many more. Nick has worked as a designer & printer for over 20 years and has taught in schools, colleges, universities and print workshops across the UK.

Experience level

No previous experience is needed for this course and beginners are welcome. All you need is an open mind and willingness to experiment and get inky!

What’s included?

All course prices include basic materials such as inks, paper, tools and equipment. Other materials and printmaking papers will be available to buy during the course if you would like to try something a bit different, or take some materials home to try out.

What’s next?

After attending this course you can join our workshop as a member and continue to use our facilities to make and develop your own work. The sooner the better, as the longer you leave it the more you are likely to forget! If you join up within one month of attending the course you will receive a £5 discount. Find out more about the benefits of membership here.

*Please note that if you wish to use the workshop for making your own work after the course, you can use WYPW’s selection of lead type, up to 30pt size. Nick brings in his own wood type for use during the course, which is not available to use after the workshop. We are always looking to add to our collection of type, and build on our letterpress facilities, but do not as yet have any larger wood type available for members to use.

Cancellation Policy:

• If you have to cancel:

If you are unable to attend your booked course, we may accept the fee paid as payment towards a place on the same or another course that takes place within the same financial year (running 1 April-31 March) following the originally booked event. Such a transfer will be on condition that we are informed in writing of your intentions four weeks prior to the originally booked event. Bookings can only be transferred once.

• 16-12 weeks before the course: 50 % of the fee will be retained by WYPW
• Less than 12 weeks before the course: 100% of the fee will be retained by WYPW
• Please note that full payment is required for non-attendance on a booking that has been transferred.

If you have any further questions about our cancellation policy, please contact us on info@wypw.org  

• If we have to cancel:

West Yorkshire Print Workshop reserves the right to cancel or re-arrange courses if there are insufficient participants enrolled to run a viable course or for other unforeseen circumstances. We will do our best to give those who have already enrolled at least one weeks’ notice of cancellation. In such circumstances you will be offered a free transfer to another course date or a full refund of fees paid.

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Course Location: