College Launches Letterpress In-plant
A college in British Columbia has opened a new in-plant. It's choice of equipment, however, is somewhat unique. Instead of digital presses, this operation will feature letterpress equipment.
According to the Vernon Morning Star, Okanagan College launched the letterpress print shop on Tuesday, with more than 20,000 pounds of vintage printing presses and metal type. It was set up (like most in-plants) in the basement of the college’s Kalamalka campus, in Vernon, B.C., about 5.5 hours northeast of Vancouver.
English instructor Jason Dewinetz has reportedly loaned the college a range of letterpress equipment for student use. Students in the writing and publishing diploma program will set type and pull proofs by hand.
Okanagan College’s literary publishing imprint, Kalamalka Press, has been restructured, and forthcoming titles will be printed by students in the shop. The first book will be the manuscript of the inaugural John Lent Poetry/Prose Award, Ariel Gordon’s How to Make a Collage. Students will set the type for the book by hand, proof and correct the type, print the sheets and bind the books as part of their writing and publishing studies.