1. Create a design on your computer and order your photopolymer plate (KF152) and inks from the fine folks at boxcarpress.com.
2. Using masking or blue painters tape, center a piece of paper (larger than your plate) on the underside of the platen.
3. With your ink knife, spread out some ink on your glass (or stone), and run your brayer over it until it’s spread nice and thin.
4. Remove the plastic to expose the adhesive on the back of your plate. Place your plate in the center of your removable plexi surface.
5. Since a clean print requires proper application of ink, cut out a masking frame from cardboard or any other material you don't mind covering with ink that is the same height as the raised portion of the plate. The plate will be .047" (about the thickness of a penny, or the cardboard on the back of a legal pad).
6. Place the frame around your plate and very carefully spread an even layer of ink over your image, making sure to ink only the parts you want to print. If ink does find its way onto other parts of the plate, use a q-tip or the corner of a paper towel to remove it. Note: This press is better suited for line art such as the pinecones and boughs featured on the cover of ReadyMade #32. For larger or more complicated projects contact a fine letterpress printer such as Norman Clayton at Classic Letterpress (510-579-0777).
7. Remove the masking frame and slide your plexi onto the bed of the letterpress.
8. Crank the handle of your bottle jack until the platen is very firmly pressed onto the base of the press. The larger the plate, the harder you’ll need to press. For small areas of coverage, apply a very light pressure in order to avoid damaging your plate. Allowing the press to rest for a moment at pressure (2 to 3 seconds) will help with both the debossing of the paper as well as the transfer of the ink. Note: Combinations of soft and hard surfaces under the paper you are printing on will help create a good impression, so if you are looking to make a deeper bite add a soft backing behind the paper you are printing on. The easiest way to do this is to place a second piece of the same paper behind the print you’re going to make, and attach photo corners to that paper, as opposed to the bottom of the platen (as described in step 10).
9. Release the pressure on the jack and check your print.
10. Before removing your paper, note where the print has landed on the sheet. Adjust the placement of the paper as necessary. Using tape or a pencil, mark off the location of the print so you can place the rest of your sheets in the same spot on the platen. Adhesive photo corners affixed in the correct position underneath the platen help make consistent placement easier.
11. Experiment with varying amounts of ink and pressure until you find a winning combination. You’ll need to re-ink after each impression, but once you’ve settled on a method that you’re comfortable with, you should be able to crank out a nice edition of your very own cards in an afternoon.