News

12 FEBRUARY 2012

Dieline & Package Design

The Cdock is a simple, elegant hand-built iPhone docking station that adds a heck of a lot of warmth to the device. Sure the iPhone is a pretty nifty little thing, maybe you can even call it sexy, but there's not a lot of love there. From what I've observed, Siri isn't helping. The newest version of the phone seems even more cold with the un-inspired voice talking at you. Anyway, if you want to introduce a little heart to your iPhone, check out the Cdock. It's made in small runs, primarily of carved walnut, by two buddies here in Portland, Oregon.

One of those buddies, James, stopped in the shop late last year to see if we could come up with a simple box design that would hold their creation. They were looking for something that they could reasonably store and assemble as they needed. They were interested in using locally sourced & environmentally sustainable materials. They chose our custom made 22 pt chipboard, produced for us by a small paper mill up the road in Washington state. We came up with a simple dieline for the package. It's a 2 piece roll fold design that requires only one tab to be glued so the final assembly can easily be accomplished by hand and without bindery equipment. The piece has a little "reveal" window which displays the face style of the Cdock (Walnut, Brushed Aluminum or Glossy Resin) and holds a 6’ USB charging cable with a standard wall charger. To see more pictures of the cDock and packaging, click here. 

Submitted by: BB

8 FEBRUARY 2012

Hot happenings in hot metal

http://lino31.blogspot.com/

For printing craftspeople, the term "hot metal" means more than sexy revivalist glam metal music. It refers to a time when printing forms were made primarily of metal, whether it be hand set foundry type or machine composition cast on-site at the print shop. The forms were then skillfully arranged by craftspeople to produce beautiful printing. There's been a lot of recent happenings in this world of craft printing. Read on for a smattering of Hot Metal Happenings.    

Tweet to Metal: Last July marked the 125th anniversary of invention of the Linotype, a machine that ushered in a new era of commercial printing. The machine streamlined the production process so even small commercial shops could offer high quality printing from freshly cast type forms without the need of large storage space and costly inventory of foundry type. 

We celebrated the anniversary date with a fun experiment to combine 20th century hot-metal technology with 21st century smart-phone technology. We (along with volunteers from the C.C. Stern Type Foundry) spent an afternoon casting "tweets" into metal using our Linotype model 31. Twitter users sent us tweets using the hash tag "#lino125" and in real time we cast the tweets, pulled proofs of the freshly cast linotype slugs, photographed the form and printed proof and then "re-tweeted" the message with a link to the photo included. The crew from Linotype (the film) joined the fun too, and helped distribute some of the metal tweets to their friends and fans. Also, we decided to continue "tweet to metal" when time allows and have set up a dedicated twitter page for the project. 

C.C. Stern Type Foundry: The aforementioned C.C. Stern Type Foundry has been doing some great work as well. This non-profit working museum focuses on "preserving the art and industry of the cast letterform" and is one of the few museums of its kind. The goal of the organization is to not only restore type casting equipment, but to operate these machines and to help keep the craft of type casting alive. After completing a successful kickstarter campaign, the organization restored a monotype sorts caster and successfully began casting letters and ornaments. This year the group will be adding a Linotype Model 31 to the collection and plan to get a monotype composition caster, keyboards and material maker within their collection in operating order. In August of this year, the C.C. Stern Type Foundry will host the 2012 American Typecasting Fellowship Conference.

2012 American Typecasting Fellowship Conference: Folks, if you are not familiar with this organization it is made up of some amazing craftspeople. While the focus of this group is indeed type founding, its members also have skills in type design, engraving, book making, commercial and fine printing, and on and on. Since 1978 the group has been meeting every other year to swap knowledge, help each other re-build type casting equipment, share presentations and offer how-to, hands-on workshops, and exchange samples of their print work with one another. Recently I've gone through bundles of printed keepsakes from previous conferences, and the level of craftsmanship that goes into this printing is inspiring. This community holds a wealth of knowledge and skill, and is an amazing resource. You won't find many of these folks in computer land, most of them don't make much time for tweeting, facebooking or blogging. They practice their craft quietly and modestly with a level of skill that is not often present in today's commercial or "boutique" printing world. That said, for those of you printers who have committed to the path that leads to becoming a master printer, I encourage you to learn about this crew and to consider attending the 2012 American Typecasting Fellowship Conference.    

And there's so much more. Here's a list of active type foundries provided by the C.C. Stern Type Foundry.   

Submitted by: BB

8 FEBRUARY 2012

Custom DVD Packaging

http://anisland.cc/home/

Late last fall we completed the printing and manufacturing of a limited custom DVD package for Copenhagen's Efterklang. The package is constructed using beefy 130# smooth cover stock with 120# cover pocket and 120# cover inserts, with 80# text 36 page booklet. It's got heft. Nan Na Hvass of Hvass&Hannibal did the graphic design and color preparation, all of which was custom tweaked and tested. We pushed the CMYK values beyond standard and "dry trapped" the piece (which is a fancy term for simply allowing for each pass through the press ample time to dry in order to lay down a nice rich layer of ink) The die-line is similar to our "Phillip's Favorite" DVD case, but with some changes in pocket arrangements and the addition of round corners. The completed piece has a depth and weight that creates an elegant and handsome package.  

Whether the work is custom or not, the collaboration between our customers and our production crew is often the most rewarding part of this work. It is fun to talk through the project, make decisions together based on the materials, print methods and tools that we have on hand, and work with the customer to come up with a production plan. As we learned more about this particular project, we realized that collaborative efforts in producing the packaging echoed the ethos of this project as a whole. While the band is made up of a solid core of 4 guys, they often involve many other musicians, artists, friends, and family to complete their live performances. This film was made in the same collaborative manner, so it was a real honor to play a part in this project. 

The custom packaging is for the film "An Island" made by Vincent Moon and features Efterklang in "an unconventional music performance" and also functions as an abstract documentary that indirectly highlights the importance that the band places on community and the role that music plays in tying communities together. Before the DVD was made available, the film was viewed at 1178 Private-Public Screenings around the world. From "an island" website: "The Private-Public Screening idea was developed by Efterklang and Vincent Moon and the rules are very simple. Anyone can host a screening but it needs to be public, have a minimum capacity of 5 people and free entrance." Very cool. These screening are documented through photos on Flickr also check out the world map of screening locations located here (you'll need to scroll down the page) it's pretty cool to check out the map and photos of screenings around the world. Efterklang does a good job of this, connecting the dots and reaching out to the wider creative community across borders and oceans. Inspiring stuff. 

Submitted by: BB

15 NOVEMBER 2011

Show Opens Thursday

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stumptownprinter...

Yea Big! Tiny Pop-Up Print Club! Submissions are here, perhaps one or two are are still on their way. To the folks who have sent us work: we apologize for setting the deadline for submissions on a national holiday. Yup. No mail service. A bit of an oversight on our part. Anyhow, it's working out, there are about 50 submissions here, safe and sound. The entries that we have seen so far are amazing. There are prints of all sorts (intaglio, wood cut, letterpress, offset lithography, silk screen and more) from presses near and far. We hope that you can join us for the reception this Thursday from 7 PM to 9 PM here at the shop. Also, the prints will be on display here until January 6th and can be viewed during our normal shop hours. For those of you who can't make it here, we will try our best to get photos of the work up on the internets by next Tuesday. We'll have a new store category called "Yea Big Prints" and will have detailed descriptions and thumbnail photo of the entries. We'll also have a higher resolution photos in our Flickr photo stream. The print submissions to the show are super-limited and can be purchased for 15 smackers. The price includes a mini folding frame. A pretty good deal for original limited artwork printed by talented craft people and artists, don't you think? Oh, and after January 6th, the show will be on the move and will evolve with additional submissions, so keep your eyes and ears open. Also, let us know if you are interested in hosting the show, unconventional venues are encouraged!

Submitted by: BB

3 NOVEMBER 2011

Unsinkable Genius

I just returned from a tour of the exhibition Unsinkable Genius: The Surreal Voyage of George Hitchcock & Kayak Magazine held at the Collins Gallery in the Multnomah County Library. The John Wilson Special Collections of the library owns most of the work produced by Hitchcock under the Kayak Press imprint, and Jim Carmin, co-curator of the exhibition, was kind enough to show us all the pieces, pointing out interesting aspects of the production of the work, and sharing anecdotes and interesting correspondence in the collection.

Oregon-born writer, artist and printer George Hitchcock (1914–2010) was on the cutting-edge of the small-press revolution.  In the early 1960s he started what could be considered a zine before the existence of zines, a literary journal called Kayak which he edited, printed, and bound himself. Kayak was in publication for 20 years.

An interesting aspect of his printing was that in addition to using a platen letterpress, Hitchcock relied heavily on a small format offset press to produce his work. His printed work was known for its spontaneity and visual whimsey. Hitchcock's sometimes flagrant disregard of technical printing standards created its own reckless beauty. There were several examples of the split fountain technique, and also examples of what  might be called "single color split fountain" where he allowed the ink to run out in a certain area of an image. On some forms it appeared as if he didn't bother with an ink fountain but instead directly inked the rollers, perhaps even replenishing with a different color of ink as the run progressed. Each piece, even within a single print edition, is unique, and each of those printed pieces is alive with the story of its production.

Unsinkable Genius: The Surreal Voyage of George Hitchcock & Kayak Magazine runs until November 27th in the Collins Gallery of the Central Library here in Portland. 

Submitted by: EB

1 NOVEMBER 2011

New Mailing Labels

Inspired by the kind of commercial printing from an era (in our opinion) where art, hand craftsmanship and industry were in pretty good balance, we modeled our new mailing labels using Linotype composition, type ornaments and an old cut of Eric and Brian's grandpa. (See "Fred Approved" below) And, it celebrates mail. You know, physical mail that has been personally prepared, handled and marked by humans and their machines to document the parcel's journey. It's pretty dang magical to receive this kind of mail, don't you think? To see photos of our new mailing label, click here, and here, and here. Or, ask us to mail you something. 

Submitted by: BB

1 NOVEMBER 2011

Show is full!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stumptownprinter...

Thanks to the 40 + printers who will be contributing pieces to the first showing of Yea Big: Tiny Pop-Up Print Club! While the first exhibition of the show is booked with artists, there will be additional opportunities to participate as the show travels and grows.  If you are a printer who is interested in participating in future exhibitions of Yea Big, please contact us for details.

In the meantime submissions are rolling in and they are knocking our socks off. Pictured is the first submission that we received. Printed by Barb Tetenbaum of Triangular Press, it is a beautiful multi-color "pressure printed" letterpress print using hand-set type, ornaments and an old advertising halftone. Gorgeous. 

For the rest of you printers who have confirmed with us, remember your submissions are due to us November 11th. Yup. We're looking forward to it! And please join us for the opening reception if you can:

Location: Stumptown Printers, 2293 N Interstate Ave, Portland 

Reception: November 17th, 2011 from 7-9pm 

Exhibit Length: November 17, 2011 - January 6, 2012

Viewing Hours: 9am-6pm Tues-Fri

Also, 15 of each print will be available for purchase for $15, and will each include a letterpress-printed 19th-century-inspired folding frame. We'll be posting additional info as the show date draws nearer.

Submitted by: BB & EP

1 NOVEMBER 2011

“Fred Approved”

Stumptown Printers has a handful of dapper halftone-heads spread around the shop, hidden away on various galleys. The halftone photos are of men and women mainly from the 1950's and 1960's. If you collect, restore and operate old printing equipment, you'll likely amass a case or so of these anonymous insurance sales people, politicians, members of fraternal organizations, etc.  We love the look of these coarse screened faces and wonder about their stories.

We'll occasionally print them, but feel a little uncomfortable at times doing so, as we often know little about them. Are there family members alive today who would be upset if their loved one was used as a graphic element in what may seem like an irreverent way? Or perhaps the subject themselves may happen upon the printing. It would be kind of strange for them, wouldn't it?

So, when we re-discovered an old cut of Stumptown Printer brothers Eric and Brian's grandfather, we figured we oughta dust him off and lay some ink on his worn halftones. Though we can't be certain, we're pretty sure that Fred would be honored to have ink on his halftone cut again. (Sorry grandpa for leaving you so long with a bunch of strangers in that dusty galley) Fred's halftone head is fairly worn but it inked rather nicely.

We decided to use his image around the shop, and came up with the term "Fred Approved". You see, Grandpa Fred was a man who operated from a "how-to" book written on another planet. He always had an answer or solution to a problem, and no matter how off-the-wall his methods, they always worked, and were often poetic in their simplicity and effectiveness. Best of all, no matter what the task, Fred approached it with a healthy dose of humor. He's been gone for about 30 years but the stories of his practical and fun way of navigating through life are still an inspiration to us. So, Fred, we hope you approve and don't mind the ink on your resting halftone cut.

To see Fred in action at the shop, click here and here.

Submitted by: BB

20 OCTOBER 2011

Call for Entries!

Stumptown Printers newest worker Elizabeth Pusack has been organizing a nifty little print show. We’re all excited about it. If you are a printer and would like to participate, we’d love to have you join us. The deadline for submissions is coming up quick, but the best part of this show is that the prints are tiny. Teeny. 2”x3”. So don't worry about creating that master piece poster or broadside. Pressure is off, this show will be a fun excuse to lay down a wee bit of ink and meet some folks. Oh, yeah, the other cool thing about the small size of the prints is that it will allow for the show to be very portable. Elizabeth is planning on sending the show off to many places. There is no telling where the show will pop up… read on for details.

Yea Big! The Stumptown Printers Tiny Pop-Up Print Club!

We’ve been feeling particularly curious about what all our fellow printers are up to lately, so, with the mission of sharing visions across print shops, we’re starting a tiny print club and archive, and hosting an inaugural party to celebrate! This exhibit won’t sit still--there are plans in the works for tiny print shows to pop up in overseas art spaces and heartland log cabins alike. We can’t wait to see your small wonder!

Check out the submission guidelines below:

Make art! Letterpress, litho, screen print, gocco, etching, monoprint ….use any printing process that requires wash-up! (No inkjet or copier prints, please.)

Dimensions: 2" x 3" Designed to fit into our 19th century-style folding frames. 

Paper Stock: Up to a thickness of 18 pt.

Edition Size: 30 (5 for Rotating Exhibit Display, 10 for Distribution to Other Participants, 15 for Sales)

Cost & Commission: Prints with frames will sell to the public for $15. Artists will take home $10 from each sale. Each participant will receive their very own frame and four randomly chosen prints by other artists to enjoy at home.

Deadlines: Please notify us of your participation no later than October 31st.

Arrange for delivery of work by November 11th.

(Please Note: We have a limited number of slots available for the opening show. If you are interested in participating, contact us soon. We'll let you know as soon as possible if we can accommodate your piece.)

We hope you can come to the opening reception on November 17th, in the shop @ 2293 N. Interstate Ave, Portland 97227

More info or questions contact:

elizabeth@stumptownprinters.com

Submitted by: BB & EP