This workshop will teach students to set metal type using a composing stick and prepare it to print on show-card, cylinder or platen press. This hands-on workshop introduces participants to the fundamentals of letterpress printing using a chase and type, either on its own or in combination with image blocks and wood type. The class will explore a wide range of essential tools, including reglets, leads and slugs, furniture, and quoins, as well as techniques for tying up a form. Participants will print their compositions on a variety of paper stocks to examine how different surfaces affect the final result, highlighting both successful choices and common pitfalls. Ideal for beginners, this class offers a solid foundation in traditional typesetting and presswork.
Date & Time: This workshop has 2 sessions, you must attend both.
Friday, July 11, 2025, 9am–4pm Central
Saturday, July 12, 2025, 9am–4pm Central
Location:
Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum, 1816 10th Street, Two Rivers, WI 54241
Workshop Cost:
$200 Total
Experience Level:
No experience necessary. The minimum age requirement for workshop participants for this event is 18+.
Instructor: Jim Moran has been a printer for over 50 years. He is a third-generation printer and owned the family print shop before working elsewhere. He became Hamilton's Director in 2009, beginning the workshop program. Jim managed the Museum's collection, archives and library for 15 years, the last five of which he was Hamilton's Master Printer. He lectured or taught at Penland, How Design, AIGA, Adobe, Tipoteca Italiana and AtypeI in Brussels and Montreal.
Everyone breaks for lunch at the same time. Options include purchasing a lunch for $15, bringing your own lunch (a refrigerator is available), or choosing a local restaurant. Clean-up begins at 3 pm and the day finishes up at 4 pm. Please wear comfortable shoes and clothes that may get ink on them. Because of the nature of the pressroom and the pieces being used, participants in the workshop must be 18 years or older.
The cost is $200 with all materials provided by the museum. Space is limited, so reservations and a $100 non-refundable deposit are required. Please complete the registration form below to reserve your place. The $100 balance is due at the beginning of the workshop. Cash, credit cards and checks are acceptable.
If you have any questions, please e-mail us at info@woodtype.org or call 920-794-6272.
