Crunch Time

I've been doing a few portfolios for contractors lately. This specific one wanted a very unique, personalized, high-end portfolio - so I suggested custom debossing. We had the ability to do a few test impressions before going at it for the final and it helped work out the 'nuances' of my westie/baker press.

This job proved the usefulness of our dear friend - Crane lettra - as you can see from the chase.

And, sometimes clients want to come in and see the action for themselves, which we encourage.. and they usually end up helping us out on the press floor!

Pictures (click to enlarge):

The Crane That Will Not Fly

Well, another interesting day in the letterpress shop..

I've been spending the day printing my 'promotional' invitations on 110lb Crane Lettra with the new supplier of photopolymer. This is the first time I've had these crazy issues. The letters are very messy and nothing is very clear on the print. I tried putting the paper every which way.. changing the packing a million times - hard stuff - soft stuff and nothing is getting the print clear.

I accidentally dropped a piece of paper through the press and in an odd irony the photopolymer made a beautifully clear print on the tympan!

I finished about 25 prints before deciding to try again another day. Any suggestions would be amazing. I did use a different supplier for the photopolymer with this job.

another thing I learned with this job - wash off remaining press wash after switching colours or your ink starts to run like blooooood... eeewww!

Pictures:

iMPRESSions - our biz cards

I am very happy to have finally completed our first duplexed business cards. Pressed on 110lb. fl.white crane lettra / coloured felt papers (black, two red, two blues. This was very successful off the press, the duplexing took a bit of time to register the crop marks but all n all a beautiful product.

What I love about this system of duplexing is that you can crunch the heck out of both sides without too much worry of over press on the opposite side.. mm.. yummy!

Lesson of the day:
Slip sheets while cutting prevents coloured paper from marking up the white crane lettra. Oh that Crane paper loves to absorb marks from just about everything...

Pictures (click to enlarge):

Moving a Letterpress

The MPRESS is finally ready to print. The move took two days and up to 6 people to move a 1000lbs Westmann and Baker Platen Press. I was lucky enough to have the services of Stephen Sword, a renowned letterpress expert who disassembled and reassembled the beast. Others invovled were an engineer, a building contractor, two graphic designers, and a borrowed husband. Here are a few pics from the day.

Our Lovely Shop

Our Services

We are pleased to offer these services to the GTA, Toronto, York Region, Vaughan, Peel, Missisauga and beyond.

~ LETTERPRESS SERVICES ~
We can letterpress just about anything for you..
business cards, letterhead, personal stationery, calling cards, greeting cards, your art, posters, wedding invites, baby shower invites, event invitations, etc.

We can also blind deboss a number of items including portfolio's, journals, moleskins, bookmarks, other leather goods, or press board book type items.

Trimming and Scoring is usually included in the price unless a special design is required.

We are famous for our duplex cards - we love to print on different papers for you and glue them back to back to produce a great effect and thicker card for you.

In house we have a corner rounder in 1/8 3/8 and 1/4 sizes.


We have inhouse graphic design services if you require help setting up your files, or getting the design you desire for your invite/business card etc.

***New in 2012***
We can now edge paint your invites or business cards. We require a certain thickness to edge paint and are rapidly expanding our colours we offer. Gold, silver, black, all primaries and secondaries are available now. Email us for more info.

A new addition to our family - a digital diecutter in house however it is brand new and we are still in training with it. Hopefully this will mean custom shapes for letterpressing. Stay tuned.

Our 2012 Wish List includes a foil stamper, a windmill or miele v-40, a 3-1 photopolymer machine so we can make plates in house and make letterpressing even more economical for you :)

~ INKS ~
We can match any colour you would like - just give us the pantone you'd prefer and we will match it -or- if you must have that pantone - we can bring in that pantone for you (an extra fee applies)

We also have gold and silver metalic inks in house.

~ PAPER ~
We prefer to print on crane lettra 100% cotton paper.

Currently the cotton paper we have:
Crane Lettra 110# Flourescent white
Crane Lettra 110# Pearl white
Crane Lettra 220# Flourescent white

Pulp paper in stock:
Neenah Classic Crest 130# and 80# Epic Black
Neenah Classic Crest 80# Dark Brown
Neenah Classic Crest 80# Classic Cream
Neenah Classic Crest 80# and 24# Ember blue
Neenah Environment 80# Desert storm (kraft paper colour)
Wassau 80# Stone (an evergreen shade)
Strathmore Wove 24# Natural White

also some stardream pearlescent papers in
cappuccino and silver 80# and 24#

We like Neenah paper because of its high recycled content and FSC guarantees.

Note: 80/110/130 means cover stock thickness / 24 means writing script thickness

We have lots of envelopes in stock in A2 and A6, #10 and A9. Call or email us for more info.

Contact MPRESS

Please do not hesitate to contact us with questions, queries, comments, etc.
info @ mpressprinting . com

Or speak with Elle at 416.992.7964
for quotes, design services, timelines, bookings, etc.

We are located in Vaughan, Ontario. (Woodbridge)
Close to hwy 400 and hwy 7.

Visit our shop by appointment only.
Please call Elle to arrange.