Mello Press: My First Polymer Plates

I’ve been working on a project for Neighborhood Bike Works. My housemate, Wayne, is in the process of starting a branch of the organization {which teaches kids, and adults, how to build and repair bikes – among other things} in South Philadelphia. We’ve both been living in South Philly for several years and have quite a bit of pride in our neighborhood, so when Wayne started planning a Fix-a-Flat event at Tattooed Mom’s {on Januray 17th} and needed a craft tie-in, it seemed like a natural fit.

Back in September, Dustin Hurt (director of Bowerbird} bought me a 3×5 Kelsey Excelsior press and a slew of teeny tiny lead type. After my trip to Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum, and my opportunity to print with type that was a foot tall, it was difficult for me to fathom working in such a small medium. Fortunately I was turned on to Boxcar Press and their polymer platemaking services, which allows me to bypass working with that teeny tiny type.

Let me say though, I don’t necessarily approve of polymer plates. I understand the convenience and the appeal, and I did just order my very first plates, but there’s something about working with old wooden blocks and a limited supply of letters that thrills me. Polymer seems to subtract a large portion of what I love about letterpress. Also, I’m Photoshop illiterate, which makes it incredibly difficult to design anything, and likely contributes to my standoffishness towards polymer.

I’m getting off track. I liked the idea of combining my love of letterpress with Wayne’s love for bikes, but knew that I couldn’t possibly design anything with the tiny type I own. Enter Twitter. I posted an update asking for interested designers which put in contact with Athens, GA designer Scott Hodges. A week later I had two amazing designs in front of me and a week after that I had the final files.

I sent the files into Boxcar this Monday, they called that evening to clear up some file issues, and by Tuesday afternoon they had shipped my files out. We’re expecting our delivery today and I’m looking for forward to trying this out for the first time.

For now, I’ll tide you over with Scott’s designs, and an extra one I did to fulfill the minimum order requirement.