Hot Off The Press Podcast

We hope you enjoyed Season 6 of Hot Off The Press!!! In this finale we recap 2024, and look ahead to 2025. We're heading into the new year with high hopes, big plans, and new ideas for how Hot Off the Press can be a helpful tool for our printing community! We love you for being here, tuning in, and asking us all of your questions. We hope to see/hear even more from you next year! HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE! WE MADE IT! WOO!

In this episode, we're joined by Kseniya Thomas, Director of Ladies of Letterpress, and the Owner/Presswoman of Thomas Printers. 

If you're being bombarded with ads for in-house/studio lasers then, like us, you may be very tempted to take the plunge. While we have *so* much to say about our experience with the three lasers we each have, we thought it'd be great to give you an overview of the lasers themselves - what they're capable of, and what we have and haven't liked so far.

If you joined us at the Los Angeles Printer's Fair in October, you might have seen some of our new prints the three of us created. You might have also noticed a few similarities… A few of them were printed in a combination of colors to create an ombre effect.  However you want to name it - split fountain, gradient, ombré - this printing method results in some really fun colors, usually more colors show up than you put on the press. Overall: an amazingly fun tool to have in your pocket!  This season, we've been talking a little more in depth about specific print methods, tools, and equipment. Tune into this week's episode as we dive into creating an ombré effect on platen & flat bed presses, and with a good ol' brayer if hand inking is your style! Don't forget to join us on instagram to see some of the projects we discuss printing, and be sure to visit hotoffthepresspodcast.com to see some of these prints (and maybe get one or two for your space)!

In this week's episode, Cara Jo & Moriah are united in Denver and joined by Jason Wedekind, of Genghis Kern. We discuss his journey into printing, his experience in the design world (seriously cool branding & packaging is his speciality), and how he came to be a part of the Letterpress Depot.  The Letterpress Depot will be a living museum where you can get your hands inky and learn about letterpress, but it will also be a community oriented space in Englewood, Colorado where you can host meetings, attend workshops, and so much more. In order for this historic building (and it's incredible collection of equipment!) to be open to the public, they need our support! No matter where you're located, you can provide valuable assistance to make sure this resource is opened as soon as possible. During the month of November, your donation will go twice as far thanks to Colorado Gives. Your donation will be matched, so there is no better time than today to donate whatever you can! You can also purchase limited edition letterpress prints and more on their virtual marketplace, or purchase a membership to the museum. Don't forget to follow them on Instagram or join the mailing list to receive all the progress updates and stay in touch. Colorado has a rich letterpress history and it's not done yet. Jason, Cara Jo, and so many more are not only a part of the story, but working hard to keep this legacy alive for generations to come. Tune into the episode to hear all about Jason's story, Genghis Kern, the story behind the Depot & the plans for the future.  Links: Colorado Gives: https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/LetterpressDepot Depot: http://www.letterpressdepot.org/Depot IG: https://www.instagram.com/letterpressdepot

In this week's episode we're talking about something a little different… Modern technology!  While century old equipment is usually what we're discussing on the pod, this week we're changing it up a bit and discussing some newer technology. We've encountered a growing number of requests for this little tool in the wedding stationery industry, as well as on print items in general, so we thought it would be fun for all of us to learn a little more about it. So tune into this week's episode to learn all about QR codes! Their origin, how they work, and what you'll need to know in order to make sure when you print one, it scans smoothly. We also touch on NFC chips, which are seeing an increase in paper popularity too. Whether you're a wedding stationer (or planner) looking to make the RSVP process as smooth as silk, or a business who wants to ensure their print collateral stays accurate for the long term, this info will be relevant to many!

As a continuation of our episode from season 2 "Working on your Workflow" we discuss the processes and systems we use to keep jobs flowing smoothly through our studios. The three of us all have very different preferences and strengths when it comes to organizing our workflows. We hope you guys find it helpful to hear some examples, and that you take the time to tweak your workflow if it hasn't felt groovy for you just yet.

As we recover from the 16th annual Los Angeles Printers Fair, we travel back in time to the summer of 2024 when Moriah and Jillian discuss one thing that had befuddled them for so long... Motors. This episode is *not* for the electricians or engineers (HAH)! It is for us entry level machinists who just need a better understanding oh how motors work so we can find the right one for the job at hand! Looking to buy a motor? Check out our supply guide here!

This week we're journeying all the way up to Alaska to visit with our friend Meghan Chambers! Meghan has been pulling some incredible prints, and building an understanding & appreciation of Letterpress all the way in Juneau, Alaska. We invited her to join us on the podcast to celebrate the grand opening of her new art gallery (The Laundromat Gallery) and to generally get the scoop on what it's like living & printing in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Find Meghan at the links below: Salt Water Press on Instagram and www.saltwater.press The Laundromat Gallery on Instagram and www.thelaundromatgallery.com

For years, acquiring a foil press for our shops was a hotly debated topic. Would it be worth the investment? How would we feel about doing foil in house? Where on earth will we put another press??? We discuss all of this and more with Cara Jo because she took the leap and bought the highly sought after Metallic Elephant KSF3. Tune in to find out whether it was worth dwelling so long on the decision! Interested in learning how to use the foil press? There are currently two courses offering indepth lessons online: https://www.sal-studios.com/foil-pressure-dwell-heat https://papelnco.com/the-art-of-foil-press-printing Don't forget to check out (and follow) Knapp Design Co on instagram to see all the fun things Cojo has been foiling with Tin Man: @knappdesignco

There are so many things to consider when designing for letterpress. Knowing the process, limitations, and techniques can help you elevate your design and avoid surprises ($$!). In this episode we cover some of the main items you'll want to keep in mind while designing for letterpress (although there could possibly be a hundred more!). We've discussed some of these topics more in depth in the past - but felt like it was time to revisit the subject as a whole. A few of the episodes we reference are: File Types (Spotify link) | Apple Podcasts Mixing Digital + Letterpress (Spotify link) | Apple Podcasts Kiss vs Bite (Spotify link) | Apple Podcasts Emboss Like a Boss (Spotify link) | Apple Podcasts Screening & Halftones (Apple link) | Spotify Some resources you can check out are: Jillian's Letterpress course in Stationery School Britt's Learn Letterpress Thank you so much for tuning in!! Follow us on instagram at @hotoffthepresspod

This week, Moriah & Jillian have an episode that requires some serious heavy lifting… Moving presses! All jokes aside, it's an intimidating process to move antique printing equipment. With several moves under our own belts, and plenty we've seen/heard about, we've gathered up our best advice all in one episode for you. If you're looking at getting a press, then you'll definitely want to tune in and hear all our best tips and tricks. For those who've moved presses before, you'll know there are so, so many things to consider that may not be obvious until you've done it. So if anything, this episode will serve as a reminder to appreciate your current setup and maybe give you some good ideas for the future. After you've tuned in, feel free to let us know if there's any other advice you'd offer our fellow letterpress people and we'll be happy to share with the class! You can DM us or comment on this week's post over on Instagram, or send us an email any time. Thanks for tuning in! We'll be back next week with anotha' one!

Although we've been working behind the scenes on this season for quite a while, it felt so right to officially kick off season 6 on Type High Day! Hopefully 9/18 has some fun print projects in store for you, and you can get caught up on all our goings-ons while you get inked up. We have been through some big changes in our personal lives, our work lives, and with the podcast too over the past 11 months… You'll have to tune into this episode to hear all about everything, but most importantly: we're SO FREAKING HAPPY to be back!! We've got a big surprise in this episode, and some other very fun things to come. Thank you SO much for being here! We're incredibly grateful for your patience, excitement for our return, and for your tuning in each week. We can't wait to share more with you soon.

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!

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

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

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 !!

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)

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: BRASS DIES COPPER DIES Follow the Hot Off the Press instagram account to see more content and updates from Metal Magic!

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"

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! VANDERCOOK TIMELINE Other sources used were: Wikipedia An article by Fred Williams posted on the APA Website Briar Press for miscellaneous current listings of Vandys for sale

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).

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! 

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

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:  Super cool sales brochure Fun article Other sources used for this episode:  Wikipedia George Gordon's ‘Dream' Press by Fred Williams on the APA site

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!

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!

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 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!

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!

If you're selling a product, you've probably given a lot of thought about how to package it. From it's pretty retail packaging, to the box it ships in... it all serves a bigger purpose! Finding our *flow* with packing up the various types of orders we ship out took some time, and a lot of experimenting, so this episode was made specifically because we know our past selves would have died for it! 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!

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: www.theaestheticunion.com Instagram: @theaestheticunion Tik Tok: @theeastheticunion Follow James: @jameslewistucker

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!

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!

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!

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)

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

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!

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: TRUNK CraftyBase Zoho 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!

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

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: Adobe Illustrator - Strokes Illustrator File w/ Step by Step from this episode!

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

"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!

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? https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/Lrkd95JT7ub

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!

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

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: The Alligator The Firefly 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

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!!) The Aesthetic Union Exude Joy with Erin - our neighbor!!! The Itinerant Printer Letterpress Things Modern Optic Skyline Type Foundry 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

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 Sign up for our mailing list to learn more about resources for creatives, upcoming episodes and more! 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!

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: Sign up for our mailing list to learn more about resources for creatives, upcoming episodes and more! 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/

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!