kiss not crash

I recently joined the San Jose Printer's Guild. One of the member's initiated me into the love of my pearl. She told me my dear Minnie will not handle banging impressions into the page.

And that's fine with me! I was taught by Katherine Walkup at Mills College long before this latest popularity of letterpress began. We were very strictly taught that the ink should kiss the paper, not crash into it. Anyone can bang ink into paper, or in many cases these days it's more like bang ink through paper. The beauty is in perfectly inking a sheet and leaving only a gentle kiss of impression.

I have to say I'm one of those people that feel punched in the gut when asked to make "deep impression". You just shouldn't see the impression on the other side of the paper! So it's rather a relief to not have that option. But I have another press getting ready to move to my studio, it's a C&P 8x10 with an engine... perfect for banging in the ink.. on request.

I'm trying to come around to loving this new style of letterpress. I understand that these days having that impression is the only way most people can recognize letterpress. And hey its great to have this thing I love making a comeback.