This week James is operating the Vandercook and pressing a large broadside for a custom print job. The press is a No. 4 proof press from 1947. This video shows him setting up his guides and adjusting the furniture around the base for a perfectly positioned print. Next, he applies ink to the rollers and inks the polymer plates. Finally, after printing, he carefully cleans all the rollers.
On Press: Midsummer
This week On Press is the two-color Midsummer wedding invitation design on white duplex paper with rounded corners (yes, we offer corner rounding!).
After their first color run, the invitations on the feed table are ready for their second color.
The invite rests securely in the guides to be pressed into the polymer plate.
...on the delivery table after the second color run.
Look at the beautiful impression! Duplex paper (220lb) is double the thickness of our standard 110lb paper and leaves a much deeper impression. We do offer duplex paper for all letterpress invitations for an extra cost, just be sure to ask!
Anna meticulously rounds each corner.
And here is the finished product! If you are interested in corner rounding or duplex paper for your invitations, just give us a call at (415) 355-0008, we'd love to hear from you!
On Press: In the Jungle
So much time and care goes into every letterpress job at Hello!Lucky and we want to share what goes on behind the scenes. This is the first in an ongoing series of posts detailing the unique process that combines paper and ink to create a handcrafted keepsake sure to make... an impression (oh yes we said it!). This wild three-color invitation was taken on as job printing for one of our clients.
Registration is the alignment of different inks when printing and the crop marks on each edge act as guides for keeping those colors in the right place.
A stack of sheets on the feed table
A polymer plate is freshly inked and ready to add the third color, black.
"In the Jungle" was printed by James, and this week he is sporting his forest green teamster apron. Sharp!
James Tucker in Uppercase Magazine!
The fall UPPERCASE magazine is out and features our very own letterpress printer, James Tucker! The issue is all about sharp objects like hooks, knives, and other cutting tools. Check out the "Labor Intensive" section to see James's gorgeous wood-cut print! Congrats James!
Sunshine at the Curiosity Shoppe
The Curiosity Shoppe, a local San Francisco boutique that carries quirky home decor and funky personal accessories, is hosting a letterpress poster show that features a print (above) by our very own printer, James Tucker! We couldn't be more excited for him! The show opens July 8th and also showcasing some of our favorite fellow Bay Area letterpress artists, like Pie Bird Press and Dutch Door Press. For more information about the show, please click here.
James' double-sided print, "Who Loves the Sun" was produced in a limited edition of 50 and is available for $40.