What is a Letterpress Cut or Printer's Block?
Posted on February 18, 2009 by admin
Prior to the Digital Age, newspapers, books, posters, tickets, forms, and all other types of printed-paper were produced with a Printing Press. To form the words, movable type was used and print blocks would be used along side to add images or decorations around the text. A print block is also known as a letterpress cut or a printing die.
Inserting a print block along side the type would have produced any graphics, images or pictures. The type and print blocks are set into a frame, known as a chase. Ink is rolled over the surface of the type and blocks with a roller, known as a brayer. The paper is then pressed onto the inked surface. The process was done on a The process was done on a Printing Press. These were manually operated in the early days until automation replaced the manual models. This would create the printed document.
This process was also known as relief printing. Which is a process consisting of cutting or etching a printing surface in such a way that all that remains of the original surface is the design to be printed. Examples of relief-printing processes include woodcut, relief etching, linocut, and metal cut.
In contrast to the above method is a process known as intaglio printing, pronounced in-tal-yo. Using this process, the areas to print are recessed. Ink is applied to the surface and recessed areas. The ink is then wiped away from the surface prior to printing. The paper will pull the ink from the recessed areas to create the printed image.
Movable type (type) is a set of individual letter blocks that can be moved to any location, to spell out any words.
Picture reversed for legibility
Picture reversed for legibility
Inserting a print block along side the type would have produced any graphics, images or pictures. The type and print blocks are set into a frame, known as a chase. Ink is rolled over the surface of the type and blocks with a roller, known as a brayer. The paper is then pressed onto the inked surface. The process was done on a The process was done on a Printing Press. These were manually operated in the early days until automation replaced the manual models. This would create the printed document.
This process was also known as relief printing. Which is a process consisting of cutting or etching a printing surface in such a way that all that remains of the original surface is the design to be printed. Examples of relief-printing processes include woodcut, relief etching, linocut, and metal cut.
In contrast to the above method is a process known as intaglio printing, pronounced in-tal-yo. Using this process, the areas to print are recessed. Ink is applied to the surface and recessed areas. The ink is then wiped away from the surface prior to printing. The paper will pull the ink from the recessed areas to create the printed image.
