UPDATE: The Printing Museum is taking recommended safety precautions regarding COVID-19 and will remain temporarily closed. We regret that this means this workshop will be cancelled, but look forward to scheduling it again at a future date! If you have purchased tickets for this workshop, our staff will be reaching out to you with options. We will still be available to serve our community by email, and continue to closely watch the developing situation. Stay healthy, Houston!
Dates: Tuesdays, 6pm to 9 pm (12 hours total instruction)
April 7, April 14, April 21, April 28 (four-part workshop) – NEW DATE to start April 7th
Experience letterpress! This course will teach you the foundational skills essential to printing on a Vandercook cylinder press using moveable type. We’ll be using a curated selection of The Printing Museum’s extensive library of vintage metal and antique wood type as well as cuts (images). At the end of this course you will have learned the basic skills needed to design, set, and print a complete edition of one-color, greeting cards.
Course goals:
- Learn to use basic typesetting skills: California type case, multi-line composition, incorporating images and ornaments, and lock up.
- Perform image registration and make-ready
- Pull a print and run an edition
- Incorporate essential studio practices into your workflow (care and safety in the print studio)
- Understand and apply general knowledge of the cylinder press and how relief printing works
Open to all skill levels, no prior experience with letterpress necessary. Ages 18 and up (15- to 17-year olds with a paying guardian). This course is a pre-requisite for intermediate and advanced letterpress workshops. Successful completion of this course qualifies you for open studio rental using the cylinder press. (See open studio agreement)
Registration: $220 early bird before March 31st, after $250. Members receive a 10% discount. Become a member today!
Materials to bring:
- 1-pair of reusable gloves (for clean-up)
- Snack and/or drink in a closed container (optional)
- All other materials will be provided.