Letterpress Printing on an Etching Press

[@creativediva52]

I did it, I did it! Wish I could post a pic. Boy, the ink made all the difference-I used the 2202, like velvet! Thanks soooo much for this video, I've been in love with letterpress for a long time, and can finally learn to make my own cards. Woo-Hoo!!

[@SpoffordPress]

Sue M THATS AWESOME!! So sorry for the very late reply! So glad it worked out for you!!

[@shrikrishnatailang4694]

Long live leiier press. Sk tailang india

[@saltoils]

Thankyou so much for this informative video. I wish to press bookmarks using my photopolymer plate I’ve got made and was wondering can you suggest an etching press to purchase for my project please

[@MrGylsen]

Wow, how amazing this video is…thank you for the demonstration of how to emboss with an etching press, 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@LesliesDemos]

Hi Eric. This is cool and want to try it at home! Is there a 'small-ish' pro-grade etching machine which you would recommend? I don't have a lot of room in my house. I would like to make 6x9 size cards. I see people using a plasticky die cutter/roller, but that doesn't seem adjustable or heavy duty enough. I appreciate any advice you could offer.

[@JulieEbersole]

WOW! Beautifully done--thank you for sharing your process! I don't have any of the equipment--just appreciate the behind the scenes look at how you achieved such a crisp, clean letterpress effect! Thank you!!!

[@SpoffordPress]

Julie Ebersole Thank You so much!!

[@sunburnfm]

Do you have an example of making an engraved card using the etching press?

[@wildearthfarm4632]

Great video! I just ordered that little etching press from Jerrys also! Mostly interested in monotypes but letterpress cards would be too much fun! Never even considered this. Thanks again!

[@SpoffordPress]

Wild Earth Farm that's awesome! I love having an etching press. Possibilities are endless!!!

[@michaeljkingjr]

Hey Eric, first off thank you for a great, well done, video and for taking the time to answer everyone's questions; it's very generous of you. I just bought a small, A3 size, etching press so that I can make letterpress wedding invitations for my sister and I was wondering, in your opinion, how crucial is the rubber offset printing blanket to getting good results and do you think another felt blanket would suffice and if not could you recommend any alternatives to the rubber blanket? Thanks again for all your time and effort!

[@rachelerr9672]

HI! This video is SO helpful to me as I recently got an etching press and have been experimenting like crazy! This is the only thing I found on youtube that is doing exactly what I've been going for! Hopefully you'll still see this even though you posted 5 years ago! One question: do you reink your plates for each print or do you get a few prints from one inking?

[@TatianaVieiraBnu]

Maravilhoso!!! Assistindo do Brasil com tradução automática 🇧🇷 Amei, aprendi muito. Obrigada ❤ Preciso encontrar onde posso fazer essa placa, me parece um carimbo, mas não sei se é o mesmo material. Obrigada por ensinar com tantos detalhes.

[@DiodePress]

Awesome! I'm going to need to pick up a set of those compressible gage pins. Great video!

[@SpoffordPress]

Diode Press They work great!!! Thanks so much!! Side Note: your last video looks killer, Graham!! Watched it last night!!

[@declercqmichel2990]

Very good job thank you from belgium

[@kukrae]

Love the vid! I've not heard of the etching press but will certainly read more about them! I've done about 300 cards using the poor man's process... The We R Memory Keeper & an electronic die cut/embossing machine. Had the same issues with rails. Got tired of lifting off all 3 one at a time... Hack :) Made the rails long enough to fit off the end of the plate bed, add 3 pieces of strong double-sided tape underneath the attached a clear, thin acrylic ruler (strong chip would work too). Voila... Can lift off all rails at once :) :) :)

[@SpoffordPress]

kukrae that’s awesome! If there’s one thing I’ve learned in all the years I’ve been printing, it’s that you have to have a DIY/ printing hack solution to almost EVERYTHING!! I still have issues pop up at least once a month! 😊

[@creativediva52]

Great video! I've been looking for a video describing this technique for ages. Thanks! I have the Richeson Baby press that has been collecting dust, so this would be fun to try!

[@SpoffordPress]

Sue M awesome!!

[@creativediva52]

ps Can you please tell me where you purchased your brayer? Thanks!

[@creativediva52]

Can you please tell me where you purchased your brayer? Also, will DickBlick block printing ink work with this technique? Thanks!

[@SpoffordPress]

Sue M that brayer was from a site called American Printing Supply, and unfortunately they don’t make them anymore. Bummer, because I’d buy 2 more if I could! The Dick Blick ink should work. Ink can be tricky because it has to be not too runny/not too stiff. Sometimes you have to try a few brands to get one that works well. Definitely some trial and error. For the polymer plates, most printers stick with oil based or rubber based inks. I’m not sure how acrylic or those “water clean up” inks work on these plates.

[@creativediva52]

That IS a bummer! Thanks so much for all the info! I was trying to make faux letterpress with a die cut / embossing machine and it doesn't compare. Puttin' on my big girl pants to venture forth with my etching press, lol! Thanks again.

[@craftchatterbox482]

Great tutorial, thank you. I'm going to attempt a small scale version with etched metal and big shot, wish me luck!

[@SpoffordPress]

Craft Chatterbox thank you!! Good luck!!! I'd love to see how it comes out!

[@MyJuancho2010]

can I use this polymercard to print on table top platen press? ..I'm sorry I just start learning.Thank you...John..Thank you...Jhon.

[@SpoffordPress]

jhon gris hi! Yes you can! They are actually made for platen presses I just use them on the etching press. You would need to stick them to a base so they are high enough to print. The place I have the plates made, Boxcar Press, also sells the bases that fit in different size plates presses!

[@melissadrum1574]

Hello! Great video, thanks so much. What is the weight of the paper you are using? Have you had any success with a 110lb paper? Thanks again!

[@SpoffordPress]

melissa drum Hi Melissa! I’m using 110lb paper in this video! It’s my go-to weight for letterpress. I use 220lb also, but it tends to get expensive, so only for limited edition prints of wedding invitations etc. The paper in the video is Crane’s Lettra paper, 300gsm or 110lb (it’s referred to as both weights depending on where it comes from). It prints beautifully!!

[@creativediva52]

Hi- would mind telling me what the "sandwich" is that you use? It looks like you have an acrylic plate (with grid under it), then the rubber mat- is that correct? What do you put on top of the rubber mat, a "blanket"? I'm such a newbie, thanks for your generous assistance!

[@SpoffordPress]

Yes, so the Press bed has an acrylic/plexi top with a sheet of grid paper underneath.thats just how it was built, it came that way! I put a rubber blanket down 1st, then a thick felt blanket on top called a “pusher”. The rubber blanket is a 4-ply rubber blanket once used in offset lithography. You can get them on eBay, cut to any size for your Press. Search “rubber blanket etching press” on eBay and they pop up. The Pusher blanket is just a very thick woven felt blanket that traditionally comes with an etching press. I’ve seen Printmakers use all kinds of things from regular felt to nothing at all, but I find these 2 blankets are the perfect combination for letterpress style printing. 😊

[@creativediva52]

You are awesome!! Thanks so much for your help and inspiring videos. Just ordered a sample plate from boxcar and will soon gather all the goodies necessary to start.Can't wait!

[@alexmccalip5564]

Hi! Would you mind sharing where you buy your blank cards from?

[@SpoffordPress]

Alex McCalip sure! Letterpresspaper.com These are A2 size 110lb Cranes Lettra scored cards, fluorescent white 😊

[@alexmccalip5564]

@@SpoffordPress Thank you so much!

[@SalvadorJum]

Great video, thank you for shearing. Where do you buy your pre-cut paper? Thanks again for your answer. :D

[@SpoffordPress]

salvador juarez meza hi! I buy them from letterpresspaper.com. Great price and the cards are perfectly trimmed and scored.

[@toyeen2247]

Hello and thank you for the awesome tutorial. Which letterpress machine would you recommend for a beginner?

[@SpoffordPress]

T4 Toyeen hi! I use a small etching press because they are very easy to find, and the price range is anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. For traditional “letterpress printing”, most artists use platen presses. The problem with those is locating one that works well and doesn’t break the bank! This type of press is no longer made, so the journey begins with searching for one and making sure it doesn’t have any issues (broken parts/rust etc). I would say I recommend trying a few different types of presses out. Maybe in a college or community printshop. The presses all work very differently but they all have some great advantages! Hope that helps!! 😊

[@toyeen2247]

@@SpoffordPress Thank you for your reply.

[@elisaduci4944]

Hi! Which polymer hardness would you recommend for an etching press? I've seen different models on boxcar site... Thank you!

[@SpoffordPress]

elisa duci hi! I use the KF152 hardness, but boxcar offers a plate sampler, where they’ll send you a small plate with their logo on it in all of the different hardnesses! It’s great, you can see if one works better then another for you! Honestly though, using the etching press and so much pressure, it almost doesn’t matter as far as the plate material!

[@fayerichardson2531]

Hi, great video, really helpful. I want to try the ink you recommended, and I ordered some online from Graphic Chemical and Ink. I haven't received it yet. Is the company still in business? I've tried calling and emailing, to no response. Thanks again for the video!

[@creativediva52]

Hi - me again. :) I'm a real newbie - so I have to ask - what did you use to get the grid lines under the (plexiglas?) plate? Thanks for answering all my questions, much appreciated.

[@SpoffordPress]

Sue M hi! That’s just a sheet of paper with a grid printed on it. My pressbed is made of a composite material and has that plexiglas top layer attached at one end with screws. So, I’m the other end, you can lift the plexi and put something underneath that will show through. Helps a lot with registration and lining up plates and papers! This is just a feature that came with my Press. I have a Conrad E-15 etching press and Conrad offers the grid paper option. It’s great!

[@creativediva52]

Cool! As long as I'm asking yet ANOTHER question - is there gold ink that looks like foil stamping? Thanks!

[@SpoffordPress]

Sue M kinda! I bought a little jar of metallic gold oil-based ink on eBay a few years ago. When you print with it, the color is gold with a slight shimmer to it. If you add some metallic pigment (it’s like a baby powder fine glitter you can get at an art supply/craft store ) then you can get more shine. You won’t get that mirror reflect gold look though. See if this link works, this is what I picked up. A little goes a long way, and this guy sells small jars. The alternative is like $100 tub of it from the manufacturer. m.ebay.com/itm/VanSon-PMS-871-Metallic-Gold-Unipak-Oil-Based-Ink-for-Printing-Press-3-5oz-/322761633108?_mwBanner=1

[@creativediva52]

Wow, thanks so much for this and your many answers to my questions. Drooling over your Etsy shop. :)

[@creativediva52]

Thanks again!

[@leighannlovesart]

I loved your video! Where did you get your etching press? I love your setup

[@SpoffordPress]

Leigh Ann Black Thank You! My press is from a company called Conrad Machine Co. they make each piece of each Press in house! Great company!

[@SkylineR33]

We got a photopolymer plate from boxcar and our dick blick etching press is showing the edge/border of the photopolymer plate. We could avoid that by just paying extra for a larger border around our image but i noticed that your plate is barely bigger than the print and the line doesnt show up. It isnt pressure because even light pressure will still show the border. We use crane lettra 110# paper. Any tips you could think of?

[@SpoffordPress]

Hi! I have 3 tips: 1. If using a plate like the one in this video with a larger empty plate border around it, I adjust pressure and I use a plastic burnisher to rub the edges of the actual plate flat into the pressbed, getting rid of that slightly raised edge that makes the line. 2. I sometimes cut the plate to almost the edge of the image (makes it look almost diecut), then there is no blank edge at all to make that line. Works best with a solid image, like an animal or something, not so much lots of text. Or 3. I use painters tape and run it around the edge of the polymer plate. This makes that blank edge not so sharp, and can get rid of the line too! Good luck!!

[@SkylineR33]

@@SpoffordPress thanks so much for the time to give thise tips. Me and my wife watch all of your old videos a LOT.

[@dilshansampathbandara8466]

Thanks. How to make a polymer plate.

[@KS-yr9fm]

Thanks for this fantastic tutorial! What type of double sided tape did you use with the Henry gage pins? Did you have any issues with it leaving residue on the press bed?

[@SpoffordPress]

Hi! The gauge pins have adhesive on them, so they just stick down automatically. They don’t leave residue, but the actual polymer plates can when you peel them off at the end of the print session. I just use a little mineral spirits and the residue comes right off. You could probably even use “fantastic” or “windex” or a spray cleaner like that. It’s not too sticky!

[@eoinbrennan2866]

Hi Eric, Love your prints and the use of the etching press for letterpress. Would the rollers have to be very heavy to make an impression as you have or would a beginner machine work as well? I was looking at something like a corkartsupplies.com/Printing-Press-School-P02922 Just to try it out, or would it be a waste. I'm looking to try intaglio, linocuts and photopolymer /letterpress prints. Its the embossed look that appeals to me. Thanks, much appreciated.

[@SpoffordPress]

Eoin Brennan hi!! I think a beginner etching press should work fine! The one in the link you sent looks great. For the letterpress plates, you will get a deep impression on any style of etching press. And the link you sent should be great for relief and intaglio etchings as well. A nice thick soft paper is a great way to get that deep impression with the polymer plates! Best of luck to you!!! 😊

[@eoinbrennan2866]

@@SpoffordPress Thanks Eric. Really appreciate it.

[@redblade8160]

Spofford Press. Why don't you make your own letterpress plates?

[@dovram1397]

thats not an A2, thats more like an A6

[@millenialmusings8451]

Video could have been better if he didn't talk so much. Let me enjoy the process. Why are you describing your every action?

[@JackMontgomery-k2t]

I found the narration very helpful. If you don’t like it, there’s a little button that lets you turn off the sound. That may help you out.