How to Letterpress Print Using Photopolymer Plates

Many magazines and newspapers are still printed using letterpress technology.

Letterpress printing is the oldest known type of reproducing images on paper. Johannes Gutenberg's printing press was in fact a letterpress design. Photopolymer plates are a modern method of letterpress, and use UV light to develop a relief on the surface of the plate, which can then be stamped onto paper. Photopolymer plates can be purchased in many designs, or made to order by sending a to-scale file of the art. Most letterpress designs are one to two colors because each color in the image must be printed using a different plate.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Letter press
• Photopolymer plate
• Letterpress ink
• Brayer
• Rolling plate
• Paper

1. Open the press. Remove the paper backing from the back of the photopolymer plate, and press it against the platen, which is the top part of the press.

2. Squirt ink onto the rolling plate. A rolling plate can be commercially purchased, or any long, flat piece of plastic or glass will work. Roll the brayer through the ink and across the rolling plate. Lift and repeat until the entire brayer is coated in ink. Roll the photopolymer plate with the brayer, and apply ink to the raised surfaces. Stray or dripped ink spots should be immediately wiped away with a moist cotton swab.

3. Line up the paper on the bed of the press, which is the plate opposite the platen. Many beds have rulers to help you align the paper with the photopolymer plate. If not, measuring may be necessary.

4. Close the press to print. Allow it to dry for a few minutes, and then repeat the process for each color in your design.

Tips & Warnings

• Use isopropyl alcohol to clean the brayer and rolling plate between colors to prevent mixing.

References

• Five Roses: Introduction to Letterpress Printing
• William Ricker: Letterpress Printing as a Hobby
• PNEAC: Letterpress Printing