As I mentioned, I took a platen press workshop over at the center for book arts all 2 days last weekend instead of Halloween fun and it was so worth it. I enjoyed it so much! I’ve been letterpress printing for 2 years now, but I have only been working with Vandercook so I’ve been wanted to learn how to operate platen presses properly (they are so different!).
This is my day 1.
The Printing Room:
![platenpressworkshop](http://heartfish.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/platenpressworkshop-500x379.jpg)
They have drawers and drawers of metal types. After learning about the platen press, how to oil them etc. we set the metal types for a small business card size project.
I picked Spartan Black…
![platenpressworkshop7](http://heartfish.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/platenpressworkshop7-500x306.jpg)
Pick up letters one by one… (the California Job Case sheet always comes in handy.)
![platenpressworkshop1](http://heartfish.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/platenpressworkshop1-500x299.jpg)
“HELLO” letters all set!
![platenpresshello1](http://heartfish.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/platenpresshello11-500x346.jpg)
and locking up in the chase…
![platenpressworkshop2](http://heartfish.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/platenpressworkshop2-500x346.jpg)
On the 1st day, we learned how to operate the table top press — this is Chandler & Price.
![platenpressworkshop4](http://heartfish.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/platenpressworkshop4-500x500.jpg)
Learned how to set the gauge pins…
![platenpressworkshop6](http://heartfish.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/platenpressworkshop6-500x376.jpg)
adjust impressions and such…
![platenpressworkshop3](http://heartfish.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/platenpressworkshop3-500x373.jpg)
and print!
![platenpressworkshop5](http://heartfish.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/platenpressworkshop5-500x316.jpg)
The tabletop presses are so small so it’s perfect to print small things such as business cards. You won’t get the strong impression like Vandercook gives, but it prints great!
![platenpressworkshop8](http://heartfish.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/platenpressworkshop8-500x382.jpg)
To be continued to day 2…