Ok folks...so I honestly can not remember when I last worked on my letterpress. I'd imagine it was over last summer, but the fact that I could not tell you exactly when if my life depended on it is pretty sad. It always seems there is something more pressing (pardon the pun) to do, and there still is, but if not now, when, right?
I have a few new paper samples I am trying out this evening. On my initial runs I was working with French Smart White,
which I love to use in my design work, but I was looking to get an
impression with my letterpress, (although I know traditionally no
impression is the desired outcome in letterpress,) and the French just
wasn't giving me what I wanted. After talking to a few fellow
letterpress beginners, and browsing the forums on Briarpress, I found that many were using Crane's Lettra,
on small presses like mine, and getting a good result. I was thrilled at
this news, but then not so thrilled when I found out that Crane's only
comes in 22" x 30" sheets. I pictured myself with my cutting board and
x-acto knife on the floor of my studio bleeding all over the lovely
lettra paper as I tried desperately lining up two rulers to cut it into
even manageable sheets...I loathe cutting large sheets of paper. Since a paper guillotine is not quite in the budget yet, I sat down
with my collection of paper sample books to try to figure out what else to try.
I finally settled on four samples from Neenah Paper, and ordered them over the holidays, which seems like ages and ages ago now, but better late than never—now the testing begins!
I am using my nesting dolls plate that I had made at Boxcar Press almost a year ago now. I am growing a little tired of nesting dolls everywhere, and they really seem to be popping up all over lately, but for a test they will do, and I'll move on to some new plates and imagery once I settle on a paper that works. I'll be using a rubber-based ink from Van Son. I have heard from more than one source that rubber-based ink is easier to use than the oil-based metallic ink I used for my initial runs, so we'll see if I find that to be the case. Now, a little iTunes, here I go...
The first sample I am trying is Neenah Eames Furniture Collection 80 lb. Cover in White with a Weave finish.
I usually gravitate towards smooth papers, but I found the box-like texture of this paper really appealing. Unfortunately, now I have found that a paper with a really distinct texture like this one, seems to fight the press a bit. I'm not getting even ink coverage because of the weave. As for an impression, I packed the press a bit more, and still, not so much...moving on...
Next I am trying Neenah's Eames Painting Collection 80 lb. Cover in White with a Canvas finish.
Same problem with this paper as the last. The texture just doesn't take the ink well enough. I chose this paper to try because some of the prints I occasionally buy on Etsy are ink jet printed on canvas-like papers and they always look amazing, but apparently letterpress is another animal all together. I also got no impression to speak of. Next!
Neenah's Environment 80 lb. Cover in White with a Smooth finish.
This paper may be too smooth, even for a smooth-finish paper lover like myself. The ink is looking patchy, like it doesn't want to set on the paper. I added a tad more ink in case there wasn't enough on the press—same result. I did get a little bit of an impression with this paper, but not what really looks like letterpress to me. Last but not least...
Neenah's Environment 80 lb. Cover in White with a Felt finish.
Having the texture problem again here. I got a little bit of an impression, but this is still not the result I am looking for. I'm also really not terribly fond of the texture on this paper. The mini-sheet in the sample book seemed ok, but this is reminding me too much of watercolor paper or something...not loving it.
It seems like all of these samples may be a bust on my press. My search will continue, as I am determined to make a go of this press and find a paper that works, even if I have to cave to the massive Crane's Lettra sheets after all. As for the rubber-based vs. oil-based ink. I have to say as of this moment I like the oil-based better. It may have something to do with the paper, but I found the rubber ink kind of slippery. The letterpress saga continues! Thank you, and goodnight.
UPDATE: Megan just informed me that now you can get Crane's Lettra in 8.5" x 11" sheets. Yay! See the comments for details. Thanks Megan!
