Creating with Letterpress

Creating with Letterpress

June 18, June 25, July 2, July 9 from 6:00-8:30 PM

$170/per person

Instructor: Greg Robison

In-Studio Class Adult class (13-17 permitted with an adult assistant) 

Explore letterpress printing in this hands-on class introducing the lore and language of the “typographic tradition” and traditional practices from typesetting to printing on iron presses. 

In this hands-on class, you will become familiar with the layout of the California job case (the traditional way metal type is stored and ready for hand composition); how individual characters are set into lines using a composing stick; the correct way to lock forms for printing; and the set-up and operation of different kinds of presses.  

Each participant will design and compose into type a personal letterhead or business card (or both) and bring this simple (and useful) project through to completion from initial design to final edition. Particular care will be devoted to safe shop practices, correct procedures, and traditional terminology so that by the end you will not only know how to work independently like a traditional letterpress printer, you’ll be able to talk like one, too! 

Some printing and letterpress experience is recommended for this class but not required. 

NOTE: 

We set our pricing to pay our instructors a fair wage and cover materials, but one of FBAC’s goals is to give access to the experience of all things bookbinding and printing to anyone who is interested. If you or someone you know would like to participate in a class but do not have the funding please reach out to contact@frederickbookarts.org and we will do what we can so no one has to miss out on the experiences we offer.