THE OLD SCHOOL PRESS

Moments in the making of Palladio's Homes

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Because of my inking regime (necessary since the press has no ink fountain - see other picture diaries for more on this) I take a number of proofs, gradually increasing the packing until I get an acceptable amount of impression. I then take a sequence of about twenty impressions without adjusting the inking. Somewhere in that twenty is the one with the 'ideal' colour - just that amount of ink and impression that looks right. I then take the proof that was five before that one and the one that was four after. These two proofs become the upper and lower bounds of the inking that I shall be aiming for through the printing of each sheet.

I keep those two proofs next to the press under a good light for the duration of the machining. After every ten impressions I check the last sheet and - if I have got the ink right last time - it will be near the paler bound. I then adjust the ink so that I achieve the upper bound for the start of the next ten. It's not perfect but it keeps things acceptable!