i have never used Lettra…..does it have a grain direction like other papers? if so, folding it against the grain can cause cracking, scoring or not.

NOOOOOO!!!!! Your work is perfect the way it is…….keep it old school, just buy more type! ( skyline type foundry) we made a pledge to NEVER use photopolymer, for us that takes the fun out of letterpress. One of the attractions of it was to get AWAY from the computer. Nothing wrong or right about it, there is absolutely beautiful letterpress…[Read more]

Hello,I hear you on scoring; it’s a mess, and I’ve tried working it on both sides with no luck either way. I just don’t think it was meant for that. I’m not a deep impression kind of gal, but I do like the Gilbert Esse line that Neenah is selling; it has more of a squarish texture to it, but it’s a very affordable alternative to the cottons, and…[Read more]

While we’re on the Lettra topic, does anyone have a good trick for avoiding the cracking along the folded edge? I’ve tried scoring on one side (both the inner and outer), I’ve even scored on both sides before folding. I’m tempted to try lightly dampening the folded edge, or maybe running a thin line of wheat paste along the edge after folding, but…[Read more]

I use photopolymer when I have a lot of text and not enough of a typeface, or when I’m printing handwriting or other languages. I also use it for line drawings (haven’t ventured into the fearsome world of dot screens yet!). I use the filmbacked plate, not metal backed, and I adhere them to a custom-made aluminium backing plate with spray adhesive,…[Read more]

Hey Cat,Kseniya posted something about inks (really good info) at http://ladiesofletterpress.ning.com/profiles/blogs/on-soy-inks. I had a client a couple of years ago that really wanted all soy inks, green paper etc. and through my research i could not find a total soy ink. Gans makes one that has soy in it but also has synthetic rubber as well. I…[Read more]

for some reason that wasn’t working. the file is 48×48 (with more white on each side). I’ll try a few other tricks and see if it works.

Sweet!Flickr seems to be stretching the photo to fit the square. Try creating a Photoshop file that is 48×48 pixels wide. Drop the logo into the file and place it nicely centered, and voila! That should do the trick.

new icon for our group up now!! http://www.flickr.com/groups/ladiesofletterpress/After a few tries, I was unable to keep it the right proportion so if anyone has any tips let me know.

hi christie,I know I’m late, but thanks for starting the flickr group. i think a cool ID pix to identify the group is the LOL illustrated crest that appears on the current shirt for sale. What do you think?cat

I just heard of this phenomenon for the first time today, and checked her Etsy site–seems to have been updated to say things like “letterpress style” and “pressed with flat printing.” I must say, as much as it chaps my ass, quite clever!

Thanks, Allison! That is awesome information- I figured that I had probably used the incorrect verbiage; maybe my google searches will prove more fruitful! I am in Pasadena, California.

I send other papers to Atlantic and they have duplexed them for me in the past. another word to use would be “laminate” I know of a shop in Denver that will do it too. Where are you located?I’ve done 8.5×11 sheets on my Xyron machine, too.

Thanks~ Unfortunately, I’m looking to have some Mohawk paper duplexed. Mohawk would probably do it, but I’d probably have to order an enormous amount (at least for me anyway!) 😉

Atlantic Paper does this with the papers they have in stock–I think the best way uses heat for a really permanent bond.

I think offering up a different name for the process is a really valid way to proceed. I love the idea of ‘laserboss’.At the risk of alienating a whole heap of people who use presses, I have a bit of trouble with stationery printed deeply by plate being called ‘letterpress’ because I associate letterpress with handset moveable type. But I think…[Read more]

I don’t have specific leather experience, but I have run enough odd surfaces through the press to know that you need to be quite careful with firm or textured surfaces that push back against the type — you end up with mashed metal, or imprinted wood, depending on what you were printing with. I now have some wood type with underpants elastic…[Read more]

I just wrote Etsy about this…let’s see if they do anything…please feel free to complain along with me :0 it will certainly add to the validity of my complaint.