I recently started a new position at the University of Arizona as the (extra long title drum roll) Printmaking/Letterpress/Publishing Lab Technician. A first task has been getting up and running with the Vandercook SP-15 proofing press. This is a press I remember working on extensively during my undergrad years, but only for printing relief prints — particularly, reduction woodcuts. UA has a total of 4 Vandercook presses, all in beautiful condition and all setup for printing wood/metal type or photopolymer plates on a Boxcar base.

On the press bed at the moment is a test for a 4-color print. The image is made using a stochastic dither and the photopolymer plates hold detail surprisingly well.

To say the least it is an interesting time to become so invested in a traditional way of making images and text such as letterpress. Ai-boosterism makes it seem like there is no point in working with antiquated technology such as this.

Obviously, I disagree with this. There has never been a better time to invest in the physical means of making images, texts, and designs. Humans need to involve ourselves in the creative process at every step. I fail to see how the generation of ai-slop will ever be as satisfying and beneficial as the slow and methodical process of making a print.