Our Process
When you pick up a Lynn-oleum print, you’ll see evidence of our meticulous patience. The end result is captivating because it highlights the humanness of the craft. From just the right amount of ink, to the impression made in the paper, you can tell each piece was handmade with love.
Printmaking Process
All of my art is made through relief printing, where the design is first hand carved into a linoleum block, then inked and pressed onto paper. Depending on what I’m making, the method of printing and end result can vary.
Step 1: Design
As a craft, printing is a meticulous and fascinating process, and I love being involved in every step of it. I’m always on the lookout for an idea for my next design. I try to stay away from trendy designs and lean more toward timeless things that inspire kindness and connection.
Sketch
I start by compiling reference images to sketch a mock-up of the design. Sometimes this stage requires several rounds of changes while I home in on a design that will work well for the carving and printing process. This can happen on paper or digitally, or a combination of both.
Hand Lettering
Many of our cards include original hand lettering and/or illustrations along with the linoleum block print imagery. This can also be done on paper or digitally, and can be printed by linoleum block or photopolymer plate. Plates are used when we want that deep, tactile letterpress impression.
Transfer
Next, I print my design out on my black-only laser printer. I transfer that image to the linoleum block by placing it face-down on the linoleum block, and color the backside of the paper with a colorless blending marker. The chemicals from the marker make the toner release from the paper and stick to the block.
Step 2: Carve
This is my favorite step of the process. There is something so satisfying about the smooth push of the carving tool moving through the linoleum and the puzzle of determining what to carve away to create the negative space in the final print.
Linoleum Block
The linoleum I use to carve my images is similar to what you’d find on a floor, but specially made for artists. It’s basically made out of sawdust and linseed oil, and mounted on a wood base so that it’s thick enough for the press. I could use wood blocks for the carving, but I don’t like fighting the grain.
Carving Tools
I use a variety of small, sharp woodworking tools to meticulously carve away the negative space. Nothing brings me more joy than popping on a podcast or audiobook and carving out tiny details for hours!
Step 3: Prep
Before my design is ready to be printed, I have to prepare the various necessary tools. I prioritize sustainability, looking to reuse tools when possible and source the parts I need from eco-friendly options.
Photopolymer Plates
When a job is too specific for old type, I can design something new and have it turned into a plastic plate to print from. Plates are our go-to when we’re printing the part of the card that needs that tactile deep impression.
Ink
I use soy oil-based ink, and mix special colors by hand. This can make the density and color of prints vary within a single run. Yay for handmade!
Paper
As a printer, paper is my canvas. Cotton paper is the gold standard for letterpress printing, but it’s too expensive and too precious for my style of cards. We use Neenah Conservation 100% PCW 110 lb. card stock for our letterpress cards.
Step 4: Letterpress Print
Now comes what many people see as the most exciting part of the process. At its simplest, relief printing is just inking up a raised surface and pressing it into paper. The machines we use help us do just that in a more efficient way. Sometimes, we feed each piece of paper one at a time through the press. Other times, we use a machine that grabs each sheet on its own. Letterpress printing is known for the debossed impression left in the paper after printing. When we print from our linoleum blocks or vintage type, there isn’t much impression because we don’t want to crush them. When we print with photopolymer plates, we can make that deep impression in the paper because the plastic is super durable.
Each of these large machines has its own distinct personality and use. Each color has to be printed separately. I mix the ink, line the block up, and then start printing. Set-up is generally the most time-consuming part of printing.
1954 Heidelberg Windmill
Once everything is dialed in, our fully-automatic press prints thousands like a champ. She has lived almost her whole life in Eureka, CA.
1925 Chandler & Price 10x15
This press belongs to Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate, but I use it as a backup when the Windmill is being testy. We printed over 1,000,000 impressions on this press in 2021 and 2022 alone!
1947 Vandercook 219OS
The Vandercook allows me to print on sheets up to 18”x24” with beautiful ink coverage and registration—that’s what you call it when you can line up the different colors just right. For the most part, this is the press I use for my limited edition art.
Digital Printing
Some of our products are digitally-printed reproductions of my original letterpress artwork, made in small batches at California-based print shops. We go this route when we’re shrinking down a larger original print, or if there are many different colors, or when it’s more cost-effective than using our vintage letterpresses.
Distinguishing our Prints
Printmaking is a tricky art form! Because of the ease of computers and printing at home, the waters have become muddied. Here’s how we classify the different items we make:
So Special, It’s Collectible
This is framable art. These prints were pulled directly from the original hand-carved block. They were printed by hand or on a vintage printing press. I always print these in a limited quantity, sign them, and number them accordingly. The same exact limited edition will never be printed again.
Limited Edition Artwork
Pretty Darn Special
These cards or art prints were printed in much the same way as the “collectible” prints but were not printed in a limited quantity. They can and will be reprinted to meet consumer demand. In our opinion, they’re still worthy of framing.
Letterpress-printed cards
Letterpress-printed small prints
Boxed stationery sets
Everyday Art (but still special)
Most of the time, these items were initially created as limited edition artworks. They have been shrunk down and printed digitally to fit on cards. They can and will be reprinted to meet consumer demand.
Postcards
A7 cards
#10 cards
6” square cards
Posters/Art Prints
Notepads
Vinyl Stickers