The Art and Craft of Hand Letterpress Printing
The Art and Craft of Hand Letterpress Printing Hand letterpress printing, a relief printing technique with roots tracing back to Johannes Gutenberg's movable type invention in the 15th century, is enjoying a significant revival today. Once the primary method for mass communication, it was largely supplanted by faster, more economical printing methods like offset lithography in the 20th century. Today, it is cherished as an artisanal craft, valued for its unique tactile quality, crisp text, and handmade appeal. A Brief History: From Industry to Art Form Letterpress printing revolutionized information dissemination, enabling the mass production of books and newspapers for centuries. The process involved inking a raised surface (originally individual metal or wood type) and pressing paper against it to transfer the ink. The shift to digital and offset printing Philippines in the late 20th century led to the decline of commercial letterpress shops, making their equipment affordable a...