For the Love of Letterpress: A Printing Handbook for Instructors and Students

by Cathie Ruggie Saunders, Martha Chiplis

Overview

Conveying the authors' love of the letterpress process and product, this book presents the technical, historical, aesthetic and practical information necessary for both students and instructors.

The 2nd edition of For the Love of Letterpress includes an updated gallery of contemporary images of letterpress printing, as well as a new chapter of letterpress assignments from the United States, United Kingdom and Europe. Both additions attest to the dynamic and continued relevance of the media.

The authors show how contemporary digital processes have expanded the boundaries of traditional letterpress. By writing with passion and experience, they indicate why a 15th century printing technology based upon crafting with one's hands, still has appeal and value to 21st century artists and designers.

Whether incorporated into an academic curriculum or used for self-study, For the Love of Letterpress is a must for students who wish to learn letterpress and instructors seeking inspiration and reference.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781350051287
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	08/08/2019
Edition description:	2nd ed.
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.60(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Cathie Ruggie Saunders has been making letterpress books since 1973 and has 35 years of experience teaching letterpress printing to graduate and undergraduate students at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Martha Chiplis has more than 16 years of experience printing limited edition books and has been teaching at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago since 2008.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
1 The Sensual, Printed Artifact
The Allure/The Passion
2 The Historical Legacy: Connecting the Past and Future
Frederic Goudy/Oswald Cooper/Robert Hunter Middleton
3 Printer's Primer
Terminology/Measurement/Lay of the Case/Spacing and Leading/Setting Type by Hand/Tying up the Form/Alignment/Ink/Paper for Proofing/Proofing
4 Press and Printing
Paper/The Vandercook Proof Press: “The Editioning Press”/Lock-Up/Press Operation/Checking the Impression/Makeready/Registering Multiple Colors/Editioning/After Printing: Cleaning the Press/Platen Presses (Chandler & Price)
5 Relief Matrices
Foundry Type/Monotype/Linotype/Ludlow/Images/Ornaments/Woodcuts/Wood Engraving/Linoleum Cut /Laser-Cut Materials/Other
6 Contemporary Processes
Found Objects and Other Materials/Pressure Printing/Split Fountain/Debossing/Printing without Ink/Damping/Monoprint/Hand Inking/Splatter /Ghosting Backwards/ Transfer/Floriated Initial Image Transfer /Brayer Roll-Outs/Stencil
7 Creating a Concept
Sources of Inspiration/Time
8 Envisioning the Object
Structural Possibilities/Relationship of Content and Structure/The Function of Dummy Structures/Choosing Appropriate Typefaces/Choosing Appropriate Paper/Choosing an Appropriate Color Palette/The Colophon
9 Assessing the Object Envisioned
Critique Format Models/The Synergy of Form and Content
10 Gallery of Lettepress
Conclusion

Appendices
Further Reading
Additional Resources
Letterpress Nomenclature (Glossary)
Index

Editorial Reviews

Letterpress clarifies typography and this book clarifies letterpress – in luscious detail. The adage 'to do is to understand' has never been better explained.” —David Jury, Lecturer in Typographic Enquiry at Cambridge School of Art, UK

“This book celebrates the torrent of creative work that we are experiencing through this 21st-century letterpress renaissance. For the Love of Letterpress is an essential reference for the next generation of artists, designers, and printers.” —Amelia Hugill-Fontanel, Associate Curator at Rochester Institute of Technology, USA

“Letterpress is the holy grail of printing and through printing design. This book is a instructive introduction to the art and craft that will never entirely die, despite the warnings of the death of print.” —Steven Heller, co-chair of the School of Visual Arts, New York University, USA

“[For the previous edition] This book is unique because it provides instruction on practical printing techniques as well as on the art of printing as a method of expression in itself rather than a simple means to an end. Strip away the creative process and even the savviest print technician cannot create a truly successful work. Learning the how is fundamental, but so is learning the why. …For those interested in understanding the whole mind-body process and experience of letterpress printing as a fine art form, this book delivers.” —Camden M. Richards in The Quarterly News-Letter of the Book Club of California, Summer 2014

“[For the previous edition] Chapters on technical aspects of presses, printing, good studio practice, relief matrices, and (please note) contemporary processes, are written in accessible language with useful information and tips that can only be gained from experienced practitioners. Enhanced by a fascinating array of images of prints, ephemera and artists' books by letterpress and book arts practitioners around the globe.” —Angie Butler, Book Artist, UK, in Printmaking Today, Fall 2014

“[For the previous edition] With its many photographs and stories of completed works, and its instruction directed at both students and teachers, For the Love of Letterpress is a book printers will refer to over and over as they add skills and develop their printing voice and style.” —Sara T. Sauers, Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Iowa Center for the Book, in Printeresting

“[For the previous edition] I have many books on printing and design and this book is an excellent resource and has become one of my favorites. This much needed inspiring instructional tool is for ANYONE with a passion for letterpress. Geared towards educators and students, each section is broken down into topic chapters that are easy to navigate through and understand. It's a wonderful reference on process, techniques and materials, so keep it handy! I find the exceptional works of various artists featured in this book, inspiring and a visual treat! Love this book!” —Jeryl Jones, Designer/Printer, Pumpkin Patch Press

“[For the previous edition] For the Love of Letterpress recognizes the history and traditional process while eloquently describing the role of letterpress in modern graphic design and art. It is thorough and simple in its discussion of the technical aspects of the printing and conceptual processes in a format that is both approachable and engaging for the printer or student. As an instructor of letterpress in higher education, I appreciate "the magic" descriptively woven throughout For the Love of Letterpress, a beautiful documentation of technical lessons and impressive letterpress work.” —Erin Beckloff, Vistiting Instructor, Miami University, Ohio

From the Publisher

As instructors of book arts, it is our duty to teach the physical processes but also to cultivate, support, challenge and facilitate the expressing of ideas from our students. This book does just that for students new to the craft and students who have been in the field for a long time, by presenting letterpress printing as a form not just of practical communication, but also of powerful communication […] For those interested in the whole mind-body process and experience of letterpress-printing as a fine art form, this book delivers.

The Quarterly News Letter Camden M. Richards