Gary and Dustin – You’re not off your rockers, but a lot of us (most?) are printing jobs with designs that bleed off the edges, so trimming the paper to size comes after printing. If your design doesn’t have bleed nor cropmarks, then sure you can paint the edges first, then print. 

I agree – trying to match the color using different ink is almost impossible. It’s best to use the inks already used for the job. Good luck to you!! -Sarah

Hi Dee! Thank you!!I don’t use a matte medium first. I apply the ink with a palette knife very carefully, with the sheets nice and flush in the padding press. And then I wipe off any excess ink with a paper towel. As for the wax – it was nothing special. I actually just used a white candle and rubbed it against the edges. The letterpress ink does…[Read more]

Hi Bev, Is there any reason why you don’t use letterpress ink instead of acrylics?What I’ve been doing is jogging my stack to the edge of a padding press, making sure it’s perfectly smooth, clamping down tight in the press, then applying a very small amount of ink with a palette knife, and then wiping off any excess, and then rubbing the surface…[Read more]

maybe! do you have a space heater? try it!also – you might want to consider a treadle. when i bought my C&P, it didn’t have a treadle or a motor. but my friend rich polinski of frontroompress.com made me a very beautiful treadle. he’s a cabinetmaker. it came out so lovely. anyway, a treadle is good to have just in case your motor dies and you have…[Read more]

Hi Katrina,I use 3-in-1 oil. Works great. And it’s strange, but it actually smells nice too.http://www.3inone.com/Happy Printing!Sarah Smith