San Francisco Center for the Book

Small-format tabletop presses are limited in what they can print, but offer a ton of possibilities for printers with bite-size projects without taking up much space. Here's your chance to spend a few hours learning how these diminutive little guys work and to print your own vintage-inspired postcards.

The instructor will supply postcard blanks pre-printed with a charming postcard back. Students will delve into SFCB's drawers of type and cuts to design their own simple image to print on the front. Students will come away from class with an introductory understanding of letterpress and relief printing, small format printing and its limits, and a small stack of their own postcards (plus others, if classmates wish to share)!

An excellent class for those curious about letterpress in general, and tabletop presses in particular. 

Prerequisite:
None.

Materials to bring:
None. All tools and materials will be provided.

About the Instructor:
Brian Ferrett (he/him) has a printing degree from MATC and worked in offset web and screen printing. In 2008 he joined M&H Type as a typecasting apprentice under Lewis Mitchell. These days he co-manages M&H's daily operations, maintains the historic casting machines and presses, casts type and prints for the various Arion Press publications. Brian is a member of the Northern California chapter of the American Printing History Association, the American Typecaster Fellowship, and volunteers with San Francisco Public Library's annual Valentine’s Day broadside event. In his spare time he plays around with his Vandercook 219AB, C&P New Style 10x15, and his two Kelseys.