West Liberty University

Media and Visual Arts

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Design Students Attend Letterpress Lecture in Pittsburgh

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WLU Design Students gather at the Pittsburgh AIGA letterpress lecture.
Professors Moon Kang, Sarah Davis, and James Haizlett brought WLU design students to the Pittsburgh AIGA letterpress lecture.

Design students and faculty braved the cold weather and terrible traffic to attend “Behind the Platen,” a Pittsburgh AIGA sponsored lecture and exhibition. Letterpress has seen a resurgence in recent years, and we were able to see examples of its use in contemporary design. Brandon Boan of Tip Type Design Studio was the principle lecturer. He purchased an old shop and is now experimenting with different forms of image making using antique tools and processes. Here are some examples of letterpress equipment and products.

Letterpress often imprints the texture of words and shapes into the paper, creating a texture that can't be achieved through computer print processes.
Letterpress often imprints the design of letterforms and shapes into the paper, creating a texture that can’t be achieved through computer print processes.
Tip Type owns two linotype machines that cast molten lead letters into strings of words that are locked together, inked, and pressed into paper.
Tip Type owns two linotype machines that cast molten lead letters into strings of words that are locked together, inked, and pressed into paper.
Letterpress print shops have sprung up all over the US in recent years. Ten or fifteen years ago you couldn't give away the equipment, because nobody wanted it.
Examples of letterpress can be found everywhere these days. The process is favored by artists and enthusiasts who want an authentic hand made product.

 

Letterpress print shops have sprung up all over the US in recent years. Ten or fifteen years ago you couldn't give away the equipment, because nobody wanted it.
Letterpress print shops have sprung up all over the US in recent years. Ten or fifteen years ago you couldn’t give away the equipment, because it was heavy, outdated, and nobody wanted it.
Join the hand made revolution! Find an old piece of equipment and experiment with it to produce interesting new forms of art!
Join the hand made revolution! Find an old piece of equipment and experiment with it to produce interesting new forms of art!

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