Letterpress & Long Grain

Packing the platen, again

Posted a while back

Impression was heavy on the left third all last week. Turned out to be two sheets of hanging packing that had crept forward. Pulled everything, re-cut the tympan, and the bite evened out immediately. Worth checking before you start blaming the type.

Paper that behaves

Earlier

• Cotton rag, 220gsm — takes a deep impression, forgiving on damp days
• Mould-made text weight — nice tooth, but curls if you over-dampen
• Cheap cover stock — avoid; the surface crushes rather than debosses

On mixing ink by eye

You will not match a swatch by eye and you should stop trying. Mix warm, print a proof, let it dry a full day, then judge. Wet ink lies about itself.