I just stumbled upon a great blog post about this, better than my rough description.http://threeredhens.blogspot.com/2008/02/letterpress-step-3-making-photopolymer.html

I remember buying some “letterpress” scrapbooking paper, and then realizing it wasn’t real. I’m sure she will have some unhappy customers who will will purchase thinking it’s really letterpress printed. It’s interesting to see what lengths she goes to imitate letterpress, and the question is why? It also seems that she knows enough to purchase…[Read more]

I can see that being annoying as well, because I also feel like I keep striving to get better at the CRAFT of letterpress. Whenever I start to feel very irritable about things like this I try to focus on the fact that I think I’m good at what I do and that the design holds its own and that makes me feel better. Someone will always come to me for…[Read more]

You don’t have to be a student at Columbia but you must be a member of the Book & Paper Center (like $40 a year or so?). If you haven’t taken a class there you may need to talk to them about proving that you know how to use the equipment but otherwise you just pay per the hour. I think they just raised the rental rates, so not sure what they are now…

That is what it says in my contract that all custom order folks must sign… 50% non refundable due upfront, balance plus shipping due prior to delivery. I wouldn’t do it any other way.

Awesome! 🙂 Thanks so much.

I would love to, I’ll get it set up tomorrow and let everyone know how to find it.

There isn’t yet! Would you like to start one?

I print out of the San Francisco Center for the Book (sfcb.org) and they have a plate making machine. I’ll try to give a quick over view so hope it makes sense.It involves starting with having the design put on film (clear area is the design, the rest is black). I have a printing place that does this for me, for about $15. Then at the center, I…[Read more]

update: I found some clear plastic boxes from clearbags.com that work well. They are the right length and height, but are a little too deep. For now I put a couple pieces of cardboard in there and it fills up the box, but wish they fit perfectly!

thanks kseniya, I was just going to print with some jewel tone colors this evening and I may try it with some transparent white and see how it looks.

I don’t have much experience doing this, but I did recently print on some fabric bags and I love how they turned out. I printed with rubber based inks. Not exactly sure if they are washable though. Anyone else know?http://www.flickr.com/photos/christienicole/3316552593/

I just printed on coasters for the first time last week, which I ordered from Amer. Coaster. I have the thickest weight and luckily they printed fine, but I was also warned that they could crack. Think I’ll get the medium weight next time.

This won’t help Christie, but Brandi…it says you’re in/near Des Moines. If you are up for a trip out to Chicago, please do talk to Paul Aken as Jen mentioned below. He has a “platen press museum” which is just an amazing HUGE building full of presses and all kinds of other antique equipment he restores, plays with, or sells. Someone recommended…[Read more]

thanks, that’s exactly what the info I needed!

Those are the sizes I use–from American Coaster, right? I’ve also die-cut the 4″ square ones to 2.5″ and 3″ circles. The thickest ones seem to crack under all but the largest plates, so next round, I’m ordering medium . . .