old project

i found this project from last semester in my room just now as i was cleaning.



It's quite similar to the 'definition' project we did this semester, except i followed the guidelines a little more closely. the text is set in metal type and i used a linoleum carving for the ring image. the impression on this print is really even and nice. i think i'll try to replicate that next time i work.

poster project part two

i printed two more additions to the poster today. the words 'borderello' and 'election' in a dark red i mixed and three ornamental stars next to those words. i'm hoping to make this poster as jam packed as possible so i'll probably use a lot more of those stars in the future.

poster project part one

i woke up bright and early today so that i'd be ready to print at my 11 AM- 2 PM time slot. I had to make my negative and then polymer plate before i could do that. We make negatives for smaller projects using transparencies and inverting the photos colors. see here:



then i made a polymer plate. i vowed never to use these after my last printing class. they have a metal backing on them which attachs to a large magnet that rests in the bed of the press. trying to move the plate around is nearly impossible and often results in cutting ones hands.



it was finally time to print. i decided to go with a dark color for the image as i'll be using reds and blues everywhere else in the text. i mixed blue with back for a really dark navy blue color. edging more on the side of black. i used three different paper shades. i think i'm most happy with the brown tone - it gives the poster an antique feel. also the plate didn't print as darkly on that paper giving the image a faded look. anyhow, i've got to figure out what text i'll be using and work on a layout next.

broadside project

the next assignment for my letterpress class is a broadside (poster) containing any text and pictures we want. i played around with adobe illustrator for a while and messed around with some images. i decided that i might make a presidential campaign poster for the house 'elections' going on at the borderello right now. here's a quick mock up of an idea.



disregard how wide it is. when i turned it into a pdf it expanded that way. anyhow, i'd probably make the posters 13X17 or so. not sure yet. i think i'll set the text in wooden type and make a polymer plate for the images.

in the studio

i've been at the letterpress studio for a few hours now and will probably be here pretty late tonight. i started a new project that i'm planning on using for some sort of greeting type card. i've finished setting the type:


and i've proofed it for errors:


disregard that it's backwards. i couldn't get preview to flip it around. and soon to come...printing!




So there is a color difference between the first and second image which doesn't come off very well via photobooth. the first edition was printed in a gold tone, the second in a rust. the star color is the same in both. i think i'll leave the insides blank, but i might add something to the back.

project complete

i finished my letterpress postcard project in record time this morning. i spent my 20 minute walk to north hall with my mind racing at full speeding contemplating the possible mistakes to be made or the lack of time i had to print. the second edition came out fine. it was a bit crooked at first, but after a few adjustments everything turned out fine.

project began

i went into the letterpress studio today to set type for my next assignment. there happens to be very specific rules for this project - 6 X 9 white postcard paper. one word in larger type, with a color of choice, and the definition of that word in smaller type, black ink. i had spent considerable amounts of time thinking about words and how i coud manipulate them in a non-cliche way. i thought about using the word space and then playing with the placement of the word on the page. once i arrived at the studio today i had a not-so-fantastic idea to use the word 'alphabet' and then for the second text have 'abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz" in type below it. i set the type and made a proof..



as you can see this picture is rather faint. i only had time to print the first half of the assignment, and hope to finish the rest tomorrow. here it is as is though.