What Is Letterpress Printing?
Letterpress printing is a form of printing employing machines that stamp letters and symbols onto a flat sheet of moving paper. The bed is composed of raised letters and symbols made by arranging plates, blocks or other engravings coated with ink.
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History
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The letterpress printing method dates back to seventh century China, where it was used to print characters onto fabrics. In 15th century Europe, Johannes Gutenberg and others created movable type to allow easier manipulation when printing on paper. After 20th century industrialization, letterpress printers were mass-produced.
Paper Feeding
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For a traditional plane-to-plane letterpress printer, paper is fed between the platen and bed.
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Letter Arrangement
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On the bed, the letters are arranged in reverse order.
Pressing
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Ink is transferred to the lettering and the platen is stamped onto the paper, which is stamped onto the letters on the bed.
Final Product
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When the print is finished, it reads from left to right. The result is a distinct impression, transferring the ink to the letters. Different types of paper produce different impressions.
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