New direction for our posterous.

I've always really liked the posterous setup. It is very clever and slick, probably more so than I am. With all the other online and social reponsibilities there are out there how is an old man supposed to keep up, which I haven't here!

Well, I had an idea a while ago for our posterous. We are going to use this space as a place to post, update, list and keep track of more technical and practical informaion often needed when doing letterpress print production.

So beginning now, look out for posts on printing materials, specification or other geeky print design information.

If you have any ideas you would like to see here let me know.

Was Gutenberg toying with a Linotype idea?

This is my first post in the new direction we plan to take with the Cranky Pressman Posterous. The idea now is to use this space for more links, posts or other information of a more technical nature about letterpress printing and the graphic arts. I have often come across articles online that were not shared because they were pretty heavy on the printing craft side of things. Lead type and tedious details are not for everybody but can be interesting or useful at other times.

I found this on a printer's blog I follow. It appears there is some evidence that Johannes Gutenberg may have been developing a linotype type concept many years ahead of its time. Interesting!

http://blogs.whattheythink.com/blognosticator/2011/01/linoberg

Design by the Book - Episode 4

Although it is about a year old, I only recently came across this series of videos jointly produced by the New York Public Library and Design*Sponge. The idea of contemporary artists using the library for reference and inspiration was so well done I decided to post them all here together along with links to websites of the artists and organizations.

This final episode shows the completed work of the five artists.

Glassblower John Pomp • Illustrator and Pattern Designer Julia Rothman • Jewelry Designer Lorena Barrezueta • Letterpress Printer Rebecca Kutys • Graphic Designer Mike Perry

Grace Bonny of Design*Sponge

Design by the Book - Episode 2

In this 2nd part of the series by New York Public Library and Design*Sponge, five artists including glassblower John Pomp, letterpress printer Rebecca Kutys, jewelry designer Lorena Barrezueta, graphic designer Mike Perry and fabric & pattern designer Julia Rothman visit the library in search of new inspiration and reference to use in their works. Special guest Isaac Mizrahi also shares his sources of inspiration.

Design by the Book - Episode 1

The New York Public Library holds a wealth of unexpected sources of inspiration for artists and designers—from vintage valentines and textile patterns, to fabric samples and turn-of-the-century menus from around the world. For this online-only miniseries, "Design by the Book," the Library partnered with the leading design blog Design*Sponge to invite five New York City-based artists to sift through our collections in search of inspiration. This is the first of the four part series.

Metal band goes unplugged with jacket printing.

UK Rock Band I, Parasite keep it real by letterpress printing the CD covers for their new album The Sick Are Not Healing.

Video of them in action at The Arm NYC:

The band's website shows the finished graphics and medieval inspired cover illustration by Paul Komoda.

(download)