An ImPRESSing Art Show

After a 3-year absence, letterpress has finally returned to MSU. On Wednesday, Sept. 18th, students in the design school held an event to celebrate the letterpress technique while also showing off some of the work they have been doing in the recently reinstated letterpress class.

Letterpress is a form of relief printing that involves composing and locking movable type into the bed of a letterpress, and guiding the paper through an apparatus in order to transfer ink onto the paper. After sending the paper through the machine, a crisp picture will remain.

This celebratory event took place on 9/18 because the height of analogue type for letterpress in The United States is 0.918 inches. This type height is unique to English-speaking countries due to their penny being 0.918 inches. Many other countries use different heights to personalize their letterpressed stamps. For example, Germany and many other European countries use a higher type height, at 0.930 inches, to distinguish their letterpress printing stamps.

The letterpressing room at MSU has been out of commission for the past three years, until Professor Ashley Fuchs started teaching a letterpress class as part of the Graphic Design major. This event was the first project that her students have completed this semester. Their first job was to promote the event. Students may have seen posters advertising their letterpress appreciation day across campus over the last couple of weeks. As a gift, the students then designed a Montana-themed poster for everyone to press and take home. The event also included a button making or postcard-making station where students could design their own button or postcard.

The celebration and reintroduction of letterpressing at MSU was a smashing hit, with both rooms filled with interested attendees. Keep a look out for more exciting events coming from the School of Art.