Last Thursday, I learned how to do typesetting with small metal types. It could be a very tedious work, especially, if you are typesetting a whole book in 10-12pt or something (oh boy, I don’t know how long that would take!) I really like typesetting it by hand, though, I guess I’m on computer too much.
This is a composing stick. You use this to assemble pieces of metal type into words and lines.
This is a whole set of “Garamond 24pt”:
We each got a cheat sheet / Layout of the case. This helps a lot when you are setting a type one by one:
My work in progress. You start from the left bottom side, the letters are all up side down, but this is the top of the line. Yes, very tricky, at first:
As the composing stick gets full, you place them into the tray and keep setting the types:
When you are done with typesetting, bring the tray and slide everything onto the press (so it won’t break or anything):
And you set the metal types tight by using those bars so they won’t move around and you are ready to print!
Here is what I printed this week – A birthday card with a little bit of DIY:
You just have to circle one that you think the birthday girl/boy looks! You can circle multiple if you’d like, and add more to it, make it funny, make it cool… it’s going to be personalized by you.
I am thinking to giveaway this letterpress card for my fellow readers today! Just leave your comment here by Wednesday, October 29th, and I will randomly select a winner. I will ship it Internationally if you are not in the US and you won the giveaway so please don’t worry.
It is an A2 folded blank card (4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches) printed on 157lb rough surface white paper with an A2 envelope.
Thank you!
Wow this is cool count me in!
oh hijiri this is so cute! i love it!
This is a neat card and thank you for sharing what you learnt in the typesetting class.
lovely and witty, i like your work Hijiri!
Bmist from France.
What a fun idea. I wonder how messy your hands get?!
this is awesome!!!
Please count me in
thanks
Antonella
What a great idea!
Shar from Houston, Texas
what a nice share
and love the look of your blog
Awesome idea.
I love the card. So unique! Also…Love your blog, Hijiri!
The power of the printing press is awesome!
I kinda know what letterpress is about but i never really knew the process. So thanks for this! It’s everything i needed to get the big picture :]
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mememe!!! hehe :D
just had my birthday this month!!
crossing fingers
letterpress class looks fun…..must find one to sign up for here in LA!
Wow, I’d love to take a class like this sometime! Great card :)
THANK YOU SO MUCH, you guys, for such nice comments!!! Giveaway entry is now over and I will randomly select the winner (by using random.org) and will let you guys know!!!
oh wowoww, this competition thing seemed real neat! too bad im one year late!
but i love this idea so much, so i have decided to try to hunt this printing press down!!