Entries in printing (20)

Tuesday
Oct232012

digital letterpress

Saturday was the second half of my letterpress class using photoplymer plates.

Because we were being taught who does printing as their work, I learned a lot.  But also, we had a chance to play.  That was so much fun!  

I was able to work with my tree on different papers and with metallic ink.

And I made some stationary.  I practiced with words too.  I learned how I would make plates differently as well.  I can see where in the future I would really like my own printing press, whether it is one I build myself from instructables or a real letterpress.  And there are still more classes at the Museum of Printing History I wish to take!

We have been very under the weather around here.  Everyone has been very sick with a stomach virus so this was really the high point of the weekend.  Each of us is barely out of bed.  Yeseterday, I could not lift my head out of bed to post this and I was actually feeling a bit better later in the evening.  We have to get better.  We are driving to a fiber fair later this week!

Wednesday
Oct102012

designing plates

After I got done writing last night, I started working on the printing plates I needed fir my class next week.  There are programs I never had used.  There is designing that I am not very good at needing to be done.  And then just the  simple bit of what did I really wish to make within the parameters of the class.  

I am quite pleased with what I came up.  I have been considering the tree for awhile.  I did some playing at work at lunch because I know the programs on the Linux side of the world better then on the PC/Mac side of the world.  I am strange.  I have more things to try now.  More ideas to ponder.  I may need to build myself a press at some point.  Or my friend, who eggs me one, might just find a press I cannot live without and have the money for at the time!  He will just wish to use it though.  He is plotting, I know.

Monday
Oct082012

tools 

I have to admit that my weekend got off to a rocky start on Friday.  Lots of miscommunication going on with very little patience.  It was mostly going on around me but I was part of the miscommunication.  Everyone seemed to be there.  It all worked it self out but it made for an interesting evening.

I really enjoyed the wood block print a made a few weeks ago.  But I was telling my Beloved that I was not very happy with the tools that I had.  I wanted something where I was not changing the blades.  I do not always get the blades sat the way I should.  I started looking for a tool set where the handles and blades were permanently attached.  I found some nice ones!  Ones that I would have to be doing much more then I am currently doing to be worth the price.  But there were some lower end ones that I could justify.

Then my Beloved received coupons in the mail from one of his favorite tool and supply stores.  The carried sets of tools and singles.  I found a new set.  A bit more then I thought I was going to spend even with a coupon but not even close to the high end.  I am happy with them.  I need to do some more design work so I can put them to use but I cannot wait!

Friday
Sep212012

trying block printing again

Ever since my printing class last spring, I have wanted to try block printing again.  I do not draw well so the process is difficult.  I like everything about it except the drawing I am trying to make.  I really like the process of printing.  Putting together the plate/block.  Testing color.  Picking paper.  Printing.  Even the clean up.

This time I decided to try something simple.  Just a word.  Joy.

The paper is wrong.  The ink is wrong.  But that is what exactly this wood block did for me.  Gave me joy.  I even made some stationary and sent it to a friend in the form of a letter.  One page turned out well.  The other just looked like a black square.  

There are some tools I still need.  A glass sheet.  A roller (brayer).  Better ink.  Probably oil based.  I might try smoother paper.  It is one of those things that I have a hard time stepping away from when I get started.  I am not sure I really need an art like that in my life but it makes me smile and brings me joy.

Wednesday
May162012

finished business cards

I picked up my business cards from the museum.  I have to admit that I am now a bit obsessed about type and presses.  I want to make some changes to these and my Beloved is changing his business cards as well.  I will be doing some actual printing of the design instead of using a stamp like before.  I would also have used black ink but I was working with a groupd.  

I really enjoyed my class and I really enjoyed the process of printing.  I just really did not need to add another thing to my life!

Page 1 ... 1 2 3 4