Letterpress Printing on the Vandercook Press

Course #3000004
Daniel Morris

Materials:
A range of colors of ink will be available for use. In addition, students are expected to supply their own paper for individual projects. Paper may be purchased from Limited Paper, Legion Paper, Cranes, etc.

Recommended Reading:
General Printing, Digital Type on the Flatbed Cylinder Press

Projects:
During class time students will produce a group project and self-paced individual projects. If students require additional studio time in order to complete their work during the duration of the course they may book it by paying a studio technician rate.

Attendance:
It is highly recommended that students attend all classes.

Class 1:
Introduction to the studio and studio safety. First demo on the Vandercook, parts of press. Students work on presses.

Class 2:
Printing with wood type demo, students setting and printing a poster/broadside.

Class 3:
Printing from photopolymer with the Boxcar base demo, talk about formatting files for photopolymer, dealing with Boxcar and Owosso + time to speak about projects.

Class 4:
Setting metal type in the composing stick, type case lays and type handling.

Class 5:
Printing from mounted linoleum and woodcuts/engravings and students begin working on individual projects.

Class 6:
Demo on die cutting using the press and die jacket, about ordering dies, continue personal projects.

Class 7:
Discussion on buying a press and places you can print. Continue personal projects.

Class 8:
About setting up your own studio, sources, continue personal projects.

Class 9 & 10:
Finish projects and distribute all type forms.

Suggested Art Supply Stores:
New York Central Art Supply—3rd Ave. between 10th and 11th Streets
Utrecht—111 East 4th Ave. between 11th and 12th Streets
Pearl Paint—308 Canal Street

Some of these stores will give you a student discount if you present your Cooper Union Continuing Education registration receipt.

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.