Introduction

Better Places than This to Learn about Letterpress Printing

It is possible, given the net, that you're a beginner interested in letterpress printing and that you stumbled across these Notebooks by accident. If this is the case, you should know that this is probably not the best place to start. I am not an expert - I'm a novice - and I don't really know what I'm talking about. So here is a short list of some better places that you should go to first.

A Very Quick Overview of the Processes

[NOTHING DONE HERE YET] [Letterpress vs. Other Types of Printing.] [Type, Punchcutting, and Typefounding.] [Hand Setting Type.] [Printing.] (For "hot metal" type, see " A (Brief) Hot Metal Taxonomy,," below.)

A (Brief) Hot Metal Taxonomy

Punches, Matrices, Molds, and Type. What are the differences between Linotype or Intertype (composing) linecasters, Monotype (composing) typecasters, Ludlow (noncomposing) linecasters, All-Purpose Linotype (A-P-L) (noncomposing) linecasters, Elrod slug and rule casters, and foundry and sorts typecasters

How to Print with Very Little Equipment

[NOTHING DONE HERE YET] Many of these Notebooks concentrate on very complicated machines, such as Linotypes, but these are not necessary for getting started with printing. At a minimal level, it is possible to start with very little indeed (not even a press) and produce printed work. The volume of output may be low, but the amount learned about type can be great. [Printing from a Block without a Press.] [Composing Type and Printing It without a Press.] [Making a Very Simple Proof Press.]