Let me begin by reminding you that EVERY letter you see is picked out of the drawers (we call them cases), one by one and placed into a composing stick (see the 4th photo down for reference). We use little wooden sticks called "riglettes" to space out words and lines and to keep the overall composition very tight. This process may sound boring and tedious but it is actually very fulfilling, almost calming in a way. Calming and fun until you realize there are no more lower case t's, and then you want to cry. So it goes both ways I guess! Maybe you need to ask a real letterpress printer, I'm really just living in a temporary Letterpress fairytale land. But either way, I'm loving every minute of it!
Poster to be re-typeset
I start out line by line, letter by letter
Slowly but surely..
Close-up of a composing stick. Each line must fit in here very tightly because when you go to lay your type in the bed of the letterpress your woodtpye and metal type can pop out and cause damage if not properly secured. The composing stick keeps the width of the line consistent.
Close up of the set type. Ain't it purdy?? Notice alllll the different pieces of type and riglettes.
...And when you're done, each letter is placed back into it's appropriate case, letter by letter..
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