Introduction to Letterpress 1: Printing Type & Images

About this course

The workshop introduces letterpress as a relief printing process, covering the use of metal and wood type, polymer plates and linocuts. Participants set type, lock up a forme, prepare and ink a press, and print a small edition using wood type and other relief surfaces. Teaching combines hands-on activities with demonstrations of processes including polymer plates, linocuts, safe press operation and basic clean-up. The course provides an overview of letterpress possibilities and its use for printed formats such as cards, posters, artist books and limited editions.

What you'll learn

• Set metal and wood type for letterpress printing
• Lock up a forme on a proofing press
• Apply ink and print a small edition
• Explain the basic principles of relief printing using type and image-making surfaces
• Identify key procedures for safe press operation and basic clean-up

Is this course right for you?

The workshop is suitable for complete beginners and is designed as an introductory starting point. Participation includes practical press work alongside demonstrations, so learners will engage directly with typesetting, inking and printing as well as observing processes introduced by the tutor.

• Suitable for complete beginners
• Combines hands-on activities with process demonstrations
• Forms the first workshop in a three-part introductory letterpress series

Before you go

• All tools and materials are provided.
• Participants leave with a hand-printed edition.