TEACHER:
LUCIO PASSERINI
Artist, printer
OBJECTIVES
In the letterpress practice, metal type was normally used for books and wood type for posters. The workshop’s product will be a unique letterpress poster, designed and printed with vintage wood type, learning to embrace imperfections that reveal the history of typographic artifacts.
The workshop will introduce the participants to the basic rules of letterpress printing, a medium of “creativity on display”. The Italian noun manifesto is also a verb, meaning “I show”. Thus, a poster manifests its maker’s creativity in words, ink, and design.
WORKING TECHNIQUE
LETTERPRESS
In the printing world, wood type was introduced fairly late compared to metal fonts. Actually, the design of wood typefaces is considered more ‘vernacular’ and pop. The fascination with creative wood type posters spring from the desire to ‘get the hands dirty’ accompanied by a need to experience a medium of strong expression of creativity.
TIMING AND CONTENT
3-DAY WORKSHOP: 18 hr practice + 6 hr visit & design
Day 1
EXPLORING TIPOTECA & POSTER DESIGN
Guided visit to Tipoteca including the library and introduction to the printing equipment. Overview of the history of printing.
Planning and design of the poster.
Day 2-3
HAND SETTING & PRINTING
Introduction to the printing workshop and use of the tools: moveable type, composing stick, typecase and furniture.
Use of wood type to set all content and create printing forms according to color.
Printing on press: use of a cylinder proof press. Running of all prints according to color.
