Hot Off The Press Podcast
By Hot Off The Press
Your hosts, Jillian of Studio Soprano and Moriah of Moriah Creates, are two letterpress printers who believe in sharing their knowledge and learning together. Our goal is to help bridge the gap between this antique printing method and modern design. We've poured through the forums, asked the experts, and learned some things first hand. We'll be sharing all of our tips and tricks, as well as interviewing some of the leaders of the industry. Toss off that apron and tune in!
Hot Off The Press PodcastNov 28, 2022
S5E12 - Typecasting with Val Lucas of Bowerbox
Val Lucas is one of the few changing the game and carrying on the legacy of metal typecasting. We were introduced to her stunning work via her pattered border submissions to the APA, and we knew we had to have her on to walk us though this process! This episode covers Val's journey from printing classes to creating her own line of cast borders.
We strongly encourage anyone who is interested in learning more about typecasting to look into classes, mentorship or even reaching out to us to see where and how you can learn more! Without active participants wanting to carry on the legacy, this keystone of print history will disappear!
To support Val, and see all of her amazing work, you can visit her website www.bowerbox.com and follow her on instagram: @bowerbox!
S5E11 - Book Club Pt 3
Pricing and finances are two of the scariest parts of going into business. In the third edition of our Book Club series, we cover two amazing guides to setting yourself up for financial success.
Books discussed:
Graphic Artists Guild Handbook, 16th Edition: Pricing & Ethical Guidelines This textbookesque guide covers so much information regarding the professional life of a graphic designer. From contracts to pricing, this book provides real world examples and standards for it all!
Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine Everything you need to know about this book is in the title. Profit First will help set your business up for financial success by reframing the structure used to organize your money!
LINKS
Graphic Artists Guild Handbook, 16th Edition: Pricing & Ethical Guidelines https://amzn.to/46pn014
Profit First by Mike Michalowicz: https://amzn.to/46k1ETi on Amazon or Bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/p/books/la-ganancia-es-primero-transforma-tu-negocio-en-una-maquina-de-hacer-dinero-y-logra-una-rentabilidad-inmediata-profit-first-transforma-tu-negocio-mike-michalowicz/266082?ean=9780735214149
And if you’re interested in Honeybook (Moriah’s CRM): https://share.honeybook.com/moriah68753
S5E10 - Press Maintenance
If you want to keep your press in tip top shape, regular maintenance is key. But we know how daunting this could feel, especially if you're brand new to printing and just acquired your press friend.
In this episode we cover some of the standard maintenance procedures you'll want to take part in. Full disclosure: this episode favors those of us operating platen presses. If you run a cylinder press or something with more parts, like a Heidelberg, there may be additional tasks you need to add to your own maintenance routine.
Have some maintenance techniques you want to share with others? Come leave a comment on our post over at @hotoffthepresspod
S5E9 - Sculpted Embossing Pt 2 w/ JR Press
For the second episode in this short series on Sculpted Embossing, we speak with Nick and Mac from JR Press in San Fransisco. JR Press is a family owned business that Nick's grandfather opened up in 1987. They have a hefty list of equipment and they've had the pleasure of working on some incredible projects.
We pick up the sculpted embossing process from where we left off with the fabrication of the plates and talk all about setting up the prints, the most successful materials to use, and even some troubleshooting tactics that we can almost guarantee you haven't thought of.
If you'd like to book a sculpted embossing (or any kind of print) project with JR Press, you can contact them via their email jrpress1@aol.com, or visit the contact form on their website: jrpress.co
To see some of their great work give them a follow in Instagram: @jrpress.sf
And to see the projects we discuss in this episode, make sure to check out our instagram over @hotoffthepresspod !!
S5E8 - Book Club Pt 2
In our second edition of the "Book Club" series, we discuss some of our favorite and most popular technical handbooks. These are books that can directly enhance your knowledge of printing and print history that can be applicable to growing your press skills.
Books covered:
Elementary Platen Presswork by Ralph W. Polk (buy here on ThriftBooks)
Printing and the Allied Trades by R. Randolph Karch (buy here on AbeBooks)
General Printing by Glen Cleeton, Charles Pitkin, and Raymond Cornwell (buy here on Amazon)
S5E7 - Sculpted Embossing w/ Metal Magic
If you've been oogling the beautiful results from sculpted emboss while scrolling through Instagram, you're not alone! We have been so intrigued by the process that we decided to set out and do a 2 part series on this seriously impressive print method!
In Part 1, we speak with Mark Schumacher from Metal Magic, the #1 place to source brass and copper dies! Mark walks us through the process of creating a sculpted plate from the order submission to shipping it out. This is an episode you surely do not want to miss!
To start your next order with Metal Magic, you can visit the contact tab on their website: https://www.metalmagic.com/
To view the videos we discuss in the episode, you can click the following links:
Follow the Hot Off the Press instagram account to see more content and updates from Metal Magic!
S5E6 - Rush Fees
Ever since the great wedding surge of 2021, it seems like rush projects are the norm. How we handle those varies from company to company, but if you're just starting out and are curious on how other printers handle rush fees - this episode is for you!
Prior to recording this episode, we polled our audience and the print community at large to gather some data. Immediately we spotted (3) common approaches to "rush fees" and we cover these, as well as some other thoughts and policies you might want to consider when establishing your pricing guidelines.
Enjoy this episode? Want to hear more business related content? Shoot us an email with a topic you'd like to hear us cover! hello@hotoffthepresspodcast.com
And don't forget to join in on the conversation over on Instagram! Just look for the post titled "Rush Fees"
S5E5 - Vandercook & Sons
In this episode we walk through the history of our favorite proof press manufacturer: Vandercook & Sons!
Their story takes several twists and turns before it ends with a familiar name, in a completely different place.
Want to follow along with some of the imagery we discuss? Here is a link to the very helpful timeline of all Vandercook presses, with details on each one!
Other sources used were:
An article by Fred Williams posted on the APA Website
Briar Press for miscellaneous current listings of Vandys for sale
S5E4 - Book Club Part 1
Your favorite letterpress podcast is starting a book club!
We have been inspired, influenced and encouraged by the writings of many authors, and we know there are so many more to hear from! We'll occasionally be sprinkling in Book Club episodes so that we can share our favorite readings with you!
In this episode we discuss two books:
The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield
Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon
We highly encourage purchasing these books from local book stores, or renting from a library (virtual library for your kindle can be found via the Libby App).
S5E3 - Screening & Screaming for Half Tones
After a fellow printer sent us a very intriguing photo of an unexpected print result, we reached back out to Shelley & Max Otto from Concord Engraving to discuss screening plates, half tones, and what happens when you submit plate artwork at anything less than 100% opacity!
We are so thrilled to have Shelley and Max rejoin us, and this episode is a must listen if you’re looking for a new technique to add to your skill set - especially if you want to gain more dimension, and more colors without doing too many press runs!
Want to see some of the visuals we discuss during our chat with Shelley & Max? Hop on over to our instagram and check out the post with the title Screening & Screaming for Half Tones.
To place an order with Concord Engraving, visit their website (www.concordengraving.com) or send an email directly to Shelley at ShelleyOtto@concordengraving.com
Make sure to let her know we sent you!
S5E2 - Delivering Bad News
We've all been there... Something is spelled wrong, the prints have a line running through them, the foil is subpar, or that color of envelope your client has been obsessing over is out of stock EVERYWHERE!
No matter what the situation is, it SUCKS delivering bad news to a client. Our emotions will always want to get the best of us, so in this episode we break down a couple different types of bad news, and give advice on how to handle the situation in a calm and professional way.
Loving a little bit of business talk mixed in with design and printing topics? Consider joining Stationery School to get lots of content related to building a stationery business. Courses cover how to handle client relationships, working with planners, creating pet illustrations.. and even a course on letterpress printing taught by your host - Jillian from Studio Soprano!
Try out Stationery School for 30 days here
Or save big and join for a whole year here
Come follow Hot Off the Press on instagram!
And if you have a topic you want to hear on the podcast, send us an email! Hello@hotoffthepresspodcast.com
S5E1 - Chandler & Price
We’ve talked a lot about platen presses on Hot Off the Press, but in this episode we are diving deep the history of Chandler & Price in particular. C&Ps, as they’re commonly known, are one of the most popular presses still around, and they're one of our faves!
We found some visuals that you might enjoy to check out as we talk through the history of this iconic company:
Other sources used for this episode:
George Gordon’s ‘Dream’ Press by Fred Williams on the APA site
Season 5 - Coming Soon!!
Life has been FULL of great things, but we are back and ready to bring you more of the letterpress content you love!
Tune in next week 7/24 for the start of Season 5 of Hot Off the Press!
S4E13 - Large Print Areas
For those of us printing on a platen press, large print areas can feel very daunting or even impossible! We both have gone from total failure to complete success when it comes to printing bigger patterns on our presses, so this episode is dedicated to all the tips and tricks we learned to get us there!
This episode concludes our fourth season! We're looking forward to bringing you more letterpress content in the summer!
Make sure to follow us on Instagram to stay up-to-date with all the latest HOTP happenings!
S4E12 - Markets and Expos
Sunny weather is here, which means markets and expos are starting to pick up! If you've never done a market before, it may seem intimidating on where to start, and you might even be wondering "will this be worth is?"
In this episode we talk about how to discern your ROI (return on investment) and how to get yourself show-ready!
Are you doing any markets in 2023? Promote them on Instagram and tag us so we can share and help support you!!
Learn Letterpress Open Registration 'til 4/16
Learn Letterpress is an online course taught by Britt Rohr of Swell Press. Britt covers everything from how to design for letterpress, to how to mix inks, and of course... printing! She does an in-depth demonstration on 3 different types of presses (a platen, flatbed and a windmill!) and even covers smart business practices like how to get the most cuts from your parent sheets!
This program is truly an all-in-one crash course in letterpress printing, so if you've been wanted to dip your toe in or advance your skills THIS is course that can help you do it!
Learn Letterpress registration is open for a limited time only, and closes on 4/16. Register for the course NOW at this link HERE: REGISTER
*Hot Off the Press is an affiliate of Learn Letterpress. By using our link you are helping to support the pod.
Want to learn more about Britt and the course? Give Episode 17 from Season 1 a listen!
S4E11 - Finding Inspiration
Nothing's more frustrating than feeling the minutes of an hour tick by while you stare at a blank art board begging for inspiration to hit. Creative ruts are no joke, no fun and can cost us a lot of time (which means they're costing us money!!).
We've identified our #1 culprit for these creative ruts, and mapped some ways to get out of them! Tune in to hear some tips you can implement either today, this weekend, or in the near future to help refill your creative cup!!
Come on over to instagram to join us in the convo about different ways of finding inspiration!
S4E10 - Packaging 101
Have a favorite packaging supply or style you want to share?? Send it in to hello@hotoffthepresspodcast.com or tag us in a story on Instagram! Show off your fine work and help inspire some newbies who are figuring out their next steps!
S4E8 - James Tucker | The Aesthetic Union
In this episode, we chat with James Tucker who, in 2013, founded the Aesthetic Union. James has an amazing background (including time spent on the presses at the infamous Hatch Printing!), and a love for exploring the art of printmaking beyond the surface of traditional techniques. He's also heavily inspired by the beauty in nature and landscapes. To hear more about mixing ink from soils, combining watercolor and letterpress, and a really exciting announcement for the Aesthetic Union, give this episode a listen!
Follow and support The Aesthetic Union:
Instagram: @theaestheticunion
Tik Tok: @theeastheticunion
Follow James: @jameslewistucker
S4E7 - Maximizing Your Assets
Sometimes being a one-woman shop feels really limiting when it comes to how much you can "earn." However, more often than not, there's a way to expand your earnings with assets you have already worked on, acquired or built.
While together in Minnesota, Jillian and Moriah sit down to brainstorm ways they can each leverage their own assets to create either passive income or additional offerings.
The goal was to not reinvent the wheel, but take a look around at the things we've done and ask ourselves "is this there more I can get out of this?"
We hope you enjoy a peek behind the curtain of how we're growing our businesses in real time, and hopefully this inspires you to take a look around and see if there are any opportunities to make a little more out of things you already own or do!
Have an idea you'd like to share? Come join in on the convo over on Instagram!
S4E6 - The Kickass Bruno Press
While on a field trip in Minnesota, we had the absolute pleasure of visiting Bruno Press and interviewing the kickass woman behind it, Mary Bruno. Mary came into letterpress thanks to her late father, Don, who was a college professor and printing enthusiast. He turned their modest-sized home garage into a printer's dreamland, and it's the same space Mary occupies today. Covered from top to bottom in posters, prints and photographs, the Bruno Press studio screams personality.
We're stoked to bring you this episode, so that you can learn a little more about Mary, all the cool things she's done, and inspire you to maybe consider a trip to the midwest where there is no shortage of phenomenal printers!
Support / follow Mary via her website www.mcbrunopress.com or on instagram @brunopress
You can also support Hot Off the Press by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or subscribing wherever you listen! Follow us on instagram or check out our shop!
S4E5 - Vacationing as a Solopreneur
Listen... we all need a little getaway sometimes, but that can feel really hard, or even scary, when the only person keeping your business going is you. As two fully solo entrepreneurs, we walk you through the steps we've learned to take to prepare our studios for planned (and unplanned) getaways.
This episode was inspired by a question from one of our listeners. Do you have a question about letterpress or running a studio? Feel free to email it to hello@hotoffthepresspodcast.com and we'll feature it on the pod!
As always, we would love for you to leave us a review, or come on over to instagram and give us a follow!
S4E4 - Leveling Your Platen
If you operate a platen press, knowing how to properly test and level your platen is a really handy skill to have! We're here to share the advice passed on to us from some of the kind souls we met at the LA Printers Fair, and walk you through the process of leveling that platen.
Trust us... you can do it! Just be careful, and take your time!
Resources:
Leveling the Platen by Fred Williams
A huge thank you to THANK YOU to Troy from Type High Groves (AMA #911)
S4E3 - Don't Go broke on Etsy
We firmly believe that if you're not on Etsy, you're leaving money on the table. However, if you're not paying attention to your real costs and the fees.. things can go wrong quickly! In this episode we cover the basics of setting up an Etsy shop, and how to make sure you don't fall victim to undercharging (Hint: Don't be looking at other shops!!).
We mention it at the top of the episode, but we're not Etsy experts; just two gals who learned some things the hard way! If you're interested in solid Etsy education, here are a few resources we recommend:
Free Etsy Workshop - Twocan (Carley Zuercher)
Energize your Etsy - Twocan (Carley Zuercher)
Etsy Fees Explained - Marmalead (this is where the great calculator came from!)
Thanks for tuning in, and as always, we would LOVE IT if you could leave us a 5 star review on apple podcasts, or come show us some love over on instagram
S4E2 Printing on Cardstocks
This is a conversation that we see, hear, and take part in A LOT: What kind of impression do you get on non-cotton cardstocks? Let's face it... in the world of cotton papers, the color selections are SLIM, and bright pops of pink or soothing shades of sage are an ever growing trend. So what options do we have? In this episode, we discuss our own experiments with colored cardstock and report back on what tips helped us the most to achieve the best impressions we could get.
Do you have a favorite colored cardstock to print on? Did we miss it in our list? Join in on the convo via Instagram!
And if you're loving Hot Off the Press it would mean the WORLD to us if you can leave a 5 star review on apple, or share this episode with a friend/fellow printer!
Happy Printing!
S4E1 New Year Maintenance
It's easy to get caught up in the busy-ness of your business, and put boring, routine maintenance items to the back-burner. Scheduling some time to take care of your studio, machines, and electronic files will go a long way in supporting your success throughout the new year. In this episode we take 3 main areas of your paper business and discuss 3 things you can do to freshen them up for 2023!
Tune in and let us know what you're doing to start the new year off on the right foot. We'll be discussing over on instagram!
Resources:
In this episode we discussed some inventory tracking systems, as well as taxes, and we have a few sources for both if you want to get started:
INVENTORY:
TAXES:
- Braden Drake - a former CPA for small businesses now makes several resources you can buy at low cost to help make sure you're on the right path with taxes!
S3E12 2022 Wrapped
We'd like to end this season with a little reflection back on our first full year as a podcast, as well as sharing our plans and process for preparing for the year that lies ahead. We're determined to make the most out of 2023, so if you need some inspiration for getting into the goal setting mood... look no further.
Want to close out your year with some Hot Off the Press swag? Comment, DM or email us your big 2023 goals and we'll enter you into the last Printmas drawing!
To all of our listeners, we cannot thank you enough. You have made this inaugural year better than we could have ever imagined. We love the community that we're joining and building simultaneously.
From your two letterpress buds... Have a happy holiday, and a fantastic new year!
-Jillian and Moriah
S3E11 Emboss Like a Boss
We've talked about printing ... we've talked about die cutting ... it's time to add another tool to your letterpress belt: Embossing!!
Embossing might seem simple on the surface, until you get to the first step of making the artwork for your plates. Sure, some manufactures will take care of all the work for you, but it's always great to have an understanding of how to make something yourself! In this episode, Jillian walks us through the process from beginning to end, making sure to note the areas where common mistakes are made.
Save yourself some time and money by following along with this audio tutorial, and save even more time and money by entering this weeks giveaway! One lucky listener will get a free copy of our Letterpress Supply Guide! This guide includes direct links to vendors in over 13 different categories, as well as a supply list that we use to stock our own shops!
Enter the giveaway by sharing your favorite Printmas episode!
Tag us in a post on instagram or shoot us an email at hello@hotoffthepresspodcast.com
Here are some helpful links for this week's episode:
S3E10 Pantone - The PMS we actually like
Once upon a time, chaos ruled the world, and "color matching" was based solely on the discretion of whoever was creating the ink or dye for that product. Can you even imagine?! In this episode we give credit where credit is due: Pantone wins the award for being the most useful (though sometimes annoying) tool for those of us working in the visual arts. We talk about the creation of the Pantone Matching System (our preferred PMS), the various guides they have and what they're used for, how we use those guides for letterpress, and of course... our personal opinions on the newly announced color of the year, as well as this whole dang system in general.
Laugh along with us, then hop on over to instagram to tell us how YOU prefer to mix ink!!
Are you a "by the formula" kind of person, or do you mix by eye?
All those who share their preference will be entered to win a color-chip inspired ornament made by Jillian! Enter by Friday, Dec 9th at 11:59 pm!
https://www.pantone.com/color-of-the-year-2022
S3E9 The Better Mail Club
"Having a card on hand when you suddenly need one... it makes you feel like you have your sh*t together"
While the tragedy of a global pandemic stopped most things in their tracks, the long days of being stuck at home opened the doors for unexpected opportunity. Today we take a look back at the creation of the signature greeting card subscription: The Better Mail Club. Jillian of Studio Soprano walks us through the ideas that had been swirling through her head, how the right time finally came along, and how a growing need for connection and community allowed her to grow her skills, not only as a businesswoman, but as a prints woman.
The Better Mail Club continues to make staying connected fun, and snail mail so easy by sending everything you need (including the postage stamps!)
To enter a chance to win your own Better Mail Club subscription, follow @bettermailclub on instagram and tag a friend in the comments of the Hot Off the Press post (It will have our podcast logo on it, you won't miss it!!)
You can also join the club diectly at www.bettermailclub.com - and don't forget that you can gift Better Mail to a friend!
Thanks so much for following along!
S3E8 Just my Type
In this episode, Moriah walks you through the process of composing and setting type! Things to remember when composing, tips & tricks on locking up your form and handling wood type… It’s all here in one package, just for you. If you’ve ever wanted to get started printing with wood or metal type, consider this a guide to help you learn on your own, and know that you’re not alone! ;)
Links:
Easy Guide to Setting Type By Hand, courtesy of Letterpress Commons
https://letterpresscommons.com/setting-type-by-hand/
An amazing 1959 video on typesetting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVvbWdXRMQs
A video showing the lockup phase
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KBhrNaJUjE
The Letterrpess Supply Guide
https://hotoffthepresspodcast.com/shop#shop
Hot Off The Press Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/hotoffthepresspod/
Related Episodes:
“What’s the Point (System)?”
https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/GEY6cAGT7ub
Concord Engraving - Our favorite photopolymer vendor
https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/ABUHlDGT7ub
WTH Is Photopolymer?
S3 E7 Letters from Santa w/ Knapp Design Co
Every now and then you see a product launch that just blows your mind. The cleverness and level of detail leave you absolutely swooning. That's how we felt after seeing the 2022 Letters from Santa offered by Knapp Design Co. You might remember our friend Cara Jo from Season 2, and we are so excited to have her back to walk us through this brilliantly detailed suite of products, and how her press, Dorothy, really leveled up the quality from Santa's workshop this year!
We'd like to give a warning that we DO talk about Santa quite a bit in this episode, and if you have little believers in your car, you might want to wait to listen to this particular episode :)
Letters from Santa are open for a limited time only just for Hot Off the Press listeners! You can learn more about those here.
And follow all the great things Knapp Design Co is doing @knappdesignco
Want to win a Letter from Santa??? Enter our Printmas giveaway this week by sharing a photo of your studio/workspace! Tag us @hotoffthepresspod or DM us a photo to gain your entry!
S3 E6 - Business to Business
Doing work for other stationers has played a pretty big role in getting our businesses off the ground, whether we planned on doing that from the beginning or not. While our social media algorithms may make it seem like everyone has access to a letterpress, it's actually very rare to have one sitting in your studio or your garage. So you might be thinking "can I offer printing to other people" ... and the answer is ... "abso-freaking-lutely"
This episode covers some of the basics that we learned after diving into B2B work: offerings, pricing and probably the most important... boundaries. If you're willing to spend a little more time printing, and a little less time designing, than B2B can be a great choice.
Have any questions or hesitations about doing business to business work? DM us on instagram to continue the conversation! We'd love to hear where your at and help if we can!
Links:
Moriah's Blog - Designing for Letterpress
Boxcar Press's Blog - File Preparation
S3E5 - Ghosts of Printing Past
Not to be typecast as a Halloween bore, we're locking up an hour of your time with a little haunting of ghosts of printing past. o0o0oo0oOo0oh .... In this episode we dive a little deeper into the lives of three printers who helped set printing history in motion. There's tales of being abandoned abroad, a few scandalous marriages, and of course, some really incredible inventions. Please enjoy this little slice of history, and if any past printers come visiting you in your dreams tonight.... we hope we'll be the first to know!
Links to photos discussed:
Research credit:
The life of Benjamin Franklin: https://www.abaa.org/members-articles/benjamin-franklins-job-printing
http://www.benjamin-franklin-history.org/acquiring-skills-in-london/
The life of George Phineas Gordon: https://history-computer.com/george-phineas-gordon-biography-history-and-inventions/
Info on S&L: https://www.briarpress.org/23204
S3E4 - Printer's Fair Recap!!
Over the weekend of October 22-23, we had the absolute pleasure of being one of the many talented vendors at the 14th Annual Los Angeles Printers Fair hosted by (and at!!) the International Printing Museum in Carson, CA. This episode recaps some of our favorite highlights of the fair, and we hope hearing these stories inspires you, not only to stretch your creativity and the bounds of what you can make on your press, but also to look into your local print community or even neighboring communities. We truly believe that there will always be more there than you expect to find!
Mark your calendars for next year, because the Los Angeles Printer’s Fair is not one to miss!!
Links:
Meet all the vendors who were at the fair here!
Learn more about the Amalgamated Printer’s Association (APA) here!
Check out the work of the artisans we specifically named in this episode (although, there were so many amazing folks so definitely scroll through all the vendors at the link above!!)
Exude Joy with Erin - our neighbor!!!
Val Lucas (not at the fair, but we talked a lot about her work!!)
P22 (not at the fair, but they had the amazing print on coated stock!)
Follow along on social media, DM us your letterpress questions, or tag us in your print-related posts! @hotoffthepresspod
S3 E3 - Die Cutting
We all love custom shapes & custom envelopes… And we’ve watched them become massively popular in stationery design. Well, in this episode covers all the common questions about die cutting, and what you’ll need to get going! Tune in to learn about the differences between steel rule dies, rotating drag knife & lasers, their pros & cons, as well as which type of die cutting you should use for your project.
Links:
Enter the Printmas Week 3 giveaway by submitting your recommendation for podcast guest here: https://forms.gle/yF1aioGTdEBfHcvr9
Follow along on social media, DM us your letterpress questions, or tag us in your print-related posts! @hotoffthepresspod
Join us for the Los Angeles Printer’s Fair! Click to Learn More and Buy Your Tickets today!
S3 E2 - 2 Wrongs Don't Make a Copyright
If you’re a printer or stationery designer, like us, you’ve probably encountered similar scenarios: a client wants you to replicate another designer’s work, a customer wants you to print something with a well-known brand on it, or you’ve found this amazing font you want to use for a brand design. Well, in this episode we’re talking about copyright, copyING and what’s fair use and what’s definitely not okay. Tune in to hear our take, but remember to consult an actual attorney if you have questions! ;-)
Links:
Follow along on social media, DM us your letterpress questions, or tag us in your print-related posts! @hotoffthepresspod
Join us for the Los Angeles Printer’s Fair! Click to Learn More and Buy Your Tickets today!
Copyright Vs. Trademark re: Disney – https://donotpay.com/learn/disney-copyright-infringement/
S3 E1 - Preparing for the Holiday Rush!
October is here, which in the small business world means it’s time to get ready for the inevitable craziness of the Holiday season! Whether you’re ahead of the game or still deciding what you want to offer this year, Jillian has a 6-step plan to make sure you’re ready for your launch day. As this is the first week of PRINTMAS, we are doing a giveaway of a Hot Off The Press t-shirt design… Be sure to tune in or join us over on social media to find out how to enter to win.
Links:
Tag us or DM us any time on Instagram @hotoffthepresspod
Sign up for our email list to stay up to date with what's Hot Off The Press
Join us for the Los Angeles Printer’s Fair! Click to Learn More and Buy Your Tickets today!
S2E13 It's About Time - Knapp Design Co
Thanks to the wonderful world of social media, we’ve had the opportunity to meet so many other amazing printers, and on this episode we are thrilled to share the story of one of our faves: Cara Jo Knapp from Knapp Design Co.
Cara Jo has long been interested in the world of print making, and patiently waited until the time was right for her to take the leap and buy a press of her own. We got to witness, first hand, how swiftly Cara Jo moved from looking for a press, to buying it, to printing on it like an absolute boss! Every layer of her story is as inspiring as the work she creates.
We are so honored to have spent some time with Cara Jo, and we hope that you find some takeaways that can support you on your own journey. Whether that’s figuring out when it’s right to bring on a new piece of equipment/ a new team member, or just some emotional support on transitioning into a new skill/trade!
You can find Cara Jo and all of the amazing things she's created with Dorothy on instagram at @knappdesignco
Or you can visit her beautiful website here
Don’t forget to check out all the details about the 2022 Los Angeles Printer’s Fair happening October 22-23 at the International Printing Museum in Carson, California. Your hosts, Moriah and Jillian, will be there and so will our guest from this episode! Come join us!!
S2E12 Q & A
We’ve had some of these questions come up several times, so we KNOW you’re going to want to hear what we have to say during this Q & A episode! We’re covering:
- press recommendations for someone wanting to print greetings
- whether or not to remix an ink that’s separated
- why Illustrator is SO hard
- when to oil your press
- and more!
Links:
We mention die cutting/die jackets, but all of our favorite vendors + supplies are included in the Letterpress Supply Guide
S2E11 - What's the Point (System)?
There are some terms in modern design & typography that actually originate in letterpress. Having a better understanding of these terms - and where they came from - will help you level up your designing game!
Tune in to learn about points, picas, kerning, tracking and more! While you listen, be sure to browse our Instagram for the graphics to go along with this episode… We’ve got a helpful guide for you there, so be sure to save it for later.
LINKS:
Link to buy your own point/pica ruler/line gauge: https://amzn.to/3QmiGbm
Click to purchase our Letterpress Supply Guide (which includes this and so many other tools for your shop!)
Print Wiki (Definitely bookmark this!)
Points, Picas, Typography Terms Article
Los Angeles Printer's Fair Info!
S2E10 - Opaque vs. Transparent White Ink
If you’ve ever mixed ink for letterpress or even LOOKED at a Pantone Formula Guide, this episode is for you! We discuss the pros & cons of the different white ink options… And tell you our favorite tips, tricks and what to look out for with both. Tune in to learn more about transparent white, opaque white, and which one to use for YOUR project!
S2E9 - File Types (What's all the hype?)
Are you a stationer getting ready to send a file to your printer? We cover what's best for foil, letterpress and digital! Or just generally curious about the different file types and what they're used for? We cover Raster & Vector images, as well as most of the file types out there: JPEG, PNG, PDF, AI, INDD, EPS, and so many more. If this all sounds like a foreign language to you... Then tune in to learn more and find out what is best for YOUR project!
Be sure to save this episode's Instagram post as an easy reference guide! You can find us @hotoffthepresspod
S2E8 Mark it! Crop Marks & Registration
After a very chaotic week in their studios, Jillian and Moriah sit down to talk about the handy little tools that can save your butt, or drive you absolutely insane when things don't go as planned. This episode is all about crop and registration marks: what they are, when to use them, and when you can lose them!
Because some of the items we discuss in this episode are extremely visual, you can check out some photos and videos we've put together HERE
Or, as always, you can head on over to instagram where we'll be posting about this topic all week!
S2E7 Concord Engraving
We are so happy to have Max & Shelley from Concord Engraving join us to talk about all of the intricacies of creating polymer plates for letterpress (and offset)! As a company founded in 1933 by Max’s family, they’ve seen many changes in the letterpress world, as well as technological advancements that directly improve the platemaking experience.
An incredibly fast turnaround, amazing customer service and a serious devotion to getting the finest details onto your plates makes them one of our favorite vendors. Tune in to hear about how polymer plates are made and what makes their process as efficient and fine-tuned as possible!
Don’t forget to visit their website concordengraving.com if you need plates made, or their instagram @concordengraving to follow along with Shelley & Max.
Want to know who else we order supplies and materials from? Be sure to visit our website to check out the Letterpress Supply Guide, where we’ve listed 50+ vendors in over a dozen categories.
S2E6 Working on Your Workflow
Almost titled “perfecting your process” this episode goes over the high level planning that goes into keeping your jobs moving smoothly through your workflow, from booking to shipping, with as little error as possible.
But you know us, nothing is really perfect and everything can be tweaked, so instead of focusing on perfection, we hope this episode inspires you to simply work on your workflow.
This is a topic near and dear to our hearts lately as we both experience the growing pains of what it’s like to take on more work without strict workflows and risk the consequences of human error. We’ve supported each other through late night reprints, several reorders of materials, and even a journey across state lines to correct a miscalculation while on holiday! If there’s anything the past month has taught us… it’s that process is everything!
If there’s a step in your workflow that you find to be critical to keep things running smoothly, we’d love to hear about it! Email us at hello@hotoffthepresspodcast.com or hit us up in our DMs on instagram
LINKS:
*these links are affiliate links and support the podcast. If you would like more information on either client management system, please reach out!
S2E5 Corcoran Printing
In this episode, while Jillian visits her hometown, we talk to Bill Corcoran of Corcoran Printing who has a deep history and loads of experience in the printing industry. He shares some of the incredible projects and clients they’ve worked with, as well as the ups & downs of the print industry over his family’s four generations in business!
Bill is an open book and patiently answers all our questions about how they gain new clients, their business model and minimums for new jobs. Tune in to hear all the details and all of Bill’s best business & print tips.
Be sure to visit their website (corcoranprinting.com) and also check out their Instagram @corcoranprinting to see some behind the scenes!
S2E4 - Inking Issues
One of our most common conversation pieces: troubleshooting the many, many printing issues! Whether you're seeing a lack of ink/too much ink on one part of your form, a pooling of ink around the letters or artwork, you’re printing, uneven printing or any of the various issues related to inking up your press - we’ve definitely both dealt with ALL of these at some point. You’re not alone and we’re here to help!
We talk about how you can determine whether your print issue is actually ink related, all of the factors to consider that MIGHT be the issue and what to do about it. Tune in and take notes for this troubleshooting episode!
S2E3 Kiss Vs. Bite - How much impression is too much?
If you’re a printer, you’ve probably heard varying opinions about how much impression is too much. It’s a hot debate in the letterpress community and a topic we both feel strongly about! We’ll talk about our thoughts, of course, as well as some of the conversations and opinions (both valid and just amusing) we’ve seen.
How paper affects it (cotton vs. cardstock), what kind of form you’re printing with (type vs. photopolymer) and what type of press you’re using all come into play when considering how much impression you’ll want to see. Overall, the most important consideration? What YOU and your clients want to see!
“If I wanted no impression, I would have ordered it offset.”
S2E2 Stationery Resources w/ Laney Ruddell
In this very special Episode of Hot Off the Press, we chat with our dear friend and fellow stationer, Laney Ruddell from Design By Laney, about many of the resources she's created, including her on-going educational program, Stationery School. Stationery School is an online program packed with tons of content relevant to creating art, running your business and keeping your clients (and you) happy!
This month (June 2022), Jillian had the honor and pleasure of being a guest instructor and added a course all on letterpress to the Stationery School curriculum. This course covers the entire process of designing, preparing and printing a 3 color job with overprint and knock out.
We were so excited to have Laney on and are endlessly grateful for all the resources she creates for our fellow paper lovers (you know you’ve heard us mention the Printable Palette a few times!).
You can find Laney over at @designbylaney on instagram or at her website Designbylaney.com
We HIGHLY recommend checking out the letterpress course in Stationery School. Jillian left nothing off the table, and walks you through each part of the process!
You can join for one month (a super bargain) here
OR… you can do yourself the best favor and join for an entire year here.
We also discuss Power in Pricing which is one of the most valuable courses Jillian has ever taken!
Moriah and Jillian are both members and we watch (and rewatch) the courses constantly!
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review or hopping over onto our instagram and leaving some love on our latest post!
Looking for more resources? Check out our Letterpress Supply Guide!
Want to support the podcast? Grab some of the first HOTP merch ever made!