Friday 16 July 2010

The Turn Of A Page . . . Nothing Beats It!

Soft paper or crisp, leather, ink, curious endpapers, notes in margins, all these and more make books delightful! In the week Dr Bill Bell, of the University of Edinburgh, warned that books may not survive in the electronic age, Glasgow Press is pleased to report active promotion of the book, from printing and binding to lending (even to Adrian) and pledging always to read a book on the subway home.

Today, we welcome twins, Calum & Beth, to our printshop where they engage in a spot of bookbinding; sewing sigs, guillotining and foil blocking on the hand platen. They have promised to write and illustrate stories in their books, which we have promised to read.

As a special treat at the end of their day as print devils, we shut them in the ink cupboard for half an hour in the dark where the real Printer's Devil lives. heh! All part of the author's experience.

Wednesday 14 July 2010

Seep Deep

Business cards by DB Studio for Remedial Massage Therapist, Andrew Aitken are soothing just to look at. Letterpress printed on Colorplan Duplex Natural to Claret, 700gsm, the ink seeps in as deep as the smooth strokes that ease away your aches and pains.


where's Andrew's number? been sitting here so long, I've a cricked neck. . .

Thursday 8 July 2010

Our Guests Today . . . Syd Sharp & Jim Currie

We welcome a couple of illustrious guests to our printroom today, Mr Syd Sharp and Mr Jim Currie. Syd and Jim started their printing careers in the early 1960s when the city of Glasgow had a thriving print trade and letterpress was king.

Serving their time as apprentices in Aird & Coghill and The Glasgow Numerical respectively, they worked for many of the mighty traditional printing companies, the majority of which have now sadly gone.

Syd and Jim also lectured for many years at the Glasgow College of Building and Printing where they passed on their boundless knowledge of letterpress and hand book-binding to another couple of generations of printers.

We hear some great tales today, from the Music Engraver who insisted his was the only job that would always be safe in the advancing world of print technology to the wild wayzgoose outings on a ferry down the River Clyde. Hope to share more of these stories at a later date.

Thanks again for stopping by Gents, for your teaching, your advice, and your tales - see you again soon.
p.s. they thought our stuff was great!

Monday 5 July 2010

Fearless

We had a lot of fun producing another amazing design by taxi studio.

Clean lines of pristine white foil proclaim contact details, and match the reverse of a Colorplan duplex 540gsm weight board, bright red to bright white.

Letterheads, Compliment Slips and Business Cards all feature the world's most fearless creature, the honey badger.

Packing a good letterpress-style punch, he's reproduced here in three inks; red, grey and black.

Thursday 1 July 2010

Appreciate

World Cup football and the buzzz of the vuvuzela (making you really appreciate the drone of the bagpipes) means South Africa is ever present on our minds this summer. Reminded us of a beautiful card we made for Jenson8 and designed by Taxi with inspirational words from Nelson Mandela.

"It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You can take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership"

Foiled in striking white on bright red Colorplan 540gsm.