After a 500-year reign, the letterpress was largely abandoned by the late 1970s, replaced by higher-production machines and newer technology. By the late 1990s, letterpress was rediscovered by a new breed of graphic artists, recognizing its distinctive and beautiful print quality. While letterpress has always retained a strong hobbyist following, it has also regained its status as a viable, specialized printing business.
Ensure that the work area, press and ink are at a comfortable room temperature. Cold will make ink too viscous and cause imprint problems. Hot temperatures can cause the ink to be too thin; too much humidity will curl paper.
The chase, furniture and type form should be double checked on the printing stone for level, buckling, loose type and furniture. Thin strips of paper or index card can help strengthen problem areas. Quoins that are too tight will cause the form to buckle and may cause problems with inking and impression.
Applying a small amount of ink to the ink disc, cycle the press to spread evenly on disc and rollers. Add additional ink in small amounts if needed. When ink is evenly distributed, stop the press and install the chase. Cycle a few more times to ink the type form.
Tympan paper is a smooth, oil treated paper used for the top sheet of the printing bed, but you may also substitute a good quality craft paper. The term "tympan" here refers to the top sheet.
Use new tympan paper and fresh packing for each job, as they can become compressed and damaged from the previous run. Use just enough packing to take a clean tympan impression and ensure the gripper is clear of the imprint area.
A good selection of packing paper should be on hand---20# bond copy paper, 110# index, tissue paper and craft paper are often all you will need. In printing, the "#" sign designates the weight of paper in pounds.
After the tympan impression is made, make vertical and horizontal measurements using the item to be printed as a guide. Draw lines at the head and side of the paper on the tympan, adding an "X" where gauges will be placed. Use one gauge for the head, two for the side, away from the impression area.
Make small slits with a razor knife in the tympan where your gauge marks are located. Install gauges, positioning them against the reference lines and adjust the paper guides. Adjust the press gripper to a non-impression area of the paper. Gripper extensions may be used for small or large pieces.
Load paper and take an impression. Check for imprint register, ink deposit and form pressure. Add or remove packing as needed or adjust the printing bed in small increments to improve impression. Adjust gauges to fix register problems.
Jog and stack a small lift (pile) of paper onto the feed board. Large lifts may fall over due to handling and press vibration. Dry fingers make feeding paper difficult, and inexpensive glycerine-based paper handling cakes will add the necessary moisture without greasiness. If imprints are smudging during take-off, a strip of sandpaper can be secured around the tip of your take-off finger with a small elastic.
Cycle the press slowly, gradually adjusting to a comfortable speed. Pile finished pieces on the take-off board and put aside for drying in small lifts. Many printers count individual lifts to easily facilitate packing and in determining final job quantity.
Clean type form, rollers and ink disc after every session. Use fast-drying solvent for forms, such as type cleaner or acetone. A dedicated solvent to clean and condition rollers will prolong their useful life. The ink disk may be cleaned with press wash, mineral spirits, kerosene or other slow-evaporating solvent.