Presswork

This term includes the various operations connected with the actual impression of the sheet, and includes making-ready the forme as well as pulling, together with various minutiae which it would be impossible to detail. The following remarks, adapted from Savage’s work, which is now becoming exceedingly rare, cannot be improved upon, and we commend then to the aspiring printer.

Presswork is the art of producing perfect impressions from the surface of type or engravings in relief; that is, the subject transferred to paper should be an impression from the surface, and the surface only, of the the, types or engraved lines, of such a tone as to produce all the effect of which the subject is capable, without either superfluity or deficiency of colour. The press ought to be in the best condition, otherwise it will be impossible to get an equal impression without much trouble and loss of time. The joints of the tympan should not have any play, or the correctness of the register will be affected, and slurs and doubles be caused. The face of the platen ought to be a true plane, and parallel to the press stone or table.

The advantage of having a good press is unavailing for the production of fine work if the types are much worn; for it is impossible to produce a sharp, clear impression when the type is worn and the fine lines rounded by much use. In consequence of this roundness of the letter it is necessary to use a thick blanket in the tympan to bring up the type; thus producing a gross irregular impression of more than the surface.

A pressman should, as a matter of course, be well acquainted with the entire routine of presswork; in addition to which, to limn his judgment, he should examine the most splendid productions of the press, and study them as patterns of workmanship. In making-ready it must be evident that, when a clear, sharp impression is wanted, the pressure should be on the surface only. Of course the tympan ought not be very soft, neither should a woollen blanket be used; the most perfect impression will be obtained when fine thick paper alone is used; and even of this article but few thicknesses should be employed. After an impression is printed, the pressman examines if it is uniform throughout; if it be—which is very rarely the case—he goes on with the work; if not, he proceeds to overlay, in order to produce regularity of pressure and of colour over the whole forme. To produce presswork of a highly superior character, great expense and much time are required, and it is requisite to have a good press in good condition; to have new types or types whose faces are not rounded by wear; to have good rollers in good condition; that the ink should he strong, of a full black colour that will not fade nor stain the paper, and ground so fine as to be impalpable; the paper should be of the best quality, made of linen rags and not bleached by acids or bleaching powders, which have a tendency to decompose the ink; the rolling should be well and carefully done; the face of the type should be completely covered with ink, without any superfluity, so as to produce a full colour; and tho pull should be so regulated as to have a slow and great pressure, and to pause at its maximum in order to fix the ink firmly upon the paper.

These particulars observed, with nothing but paper on the tympan, perfect impression of the face alone of the type will be obtained, and a splendid book will be produced in the best style of printing. Presswork includes making-ready the forme, rolling, pulling, arranging the tympans and frisket, overlaying, &c., all of which processes will be found described under their respective headings.