2012 Letterpress Calendar

January 2012 is done!

After last week’s pressure print experiment, I sent my Illustrator design off to Boxcar Press to be converted into a photopolymer plate for printing.

The printing session itself went incredibly smoothly, and I was able to print both colors in one session. (The most time-consuming part: You have to clean-up the press twice, and the Vandercook’s rubber rollers are unforgiving.)

Color mixing continues to be a challenge for me. I’d originally planned on a bright red for the mittens and the word “January,” but the color I mixed looked almost pink when I printed on the calendar paper. So I added a little black — but perhaps too much, because then it looked almost burgundy. I liked the “mulled wine” look of it, though, and decided to run with it.

For the calendar grid itself, I had originally planned on using black ink. But then I found a can of Pantone Medium Gray ink and decided something more understated might play better against the dark red.

Printing for the rest of the calendar is still underway (Julia’s been posting some awesome “sneak peek” photos on the Pyramid Letterpress blog). I think it’ll go on sale late this month or early next.

Updated 11/11: The calendar is now available for purchase. $30 if you pick it up in person; $35 if you want it shipped to you. More info

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