LETTERPRESS ON-THE-GO
PiP’s Print Kit is a letterpress print shop in a box for organizations, educators, and libraries.
Just Add People!
Historical barriers to letterpress printing include cost, space, and discrimination. PiP’s Print Kit is a giant step towards achieving a vision of an inclusive creative community by improving access to these traditionally hard-to-source, specialized printmaking tools. By reducing these barriers, a Print Kit has the potential to bring the power of the printing press to a wider audience.
Print Kit Pilot Program
Partners in Print has joined forces with the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (BIMA) to introduce a cohort of Seattle-area teaching artists to Print Kits. As the artists begin their very first deployments, we are gathering information on how they use the Print Kit in their organizations and classrooms. We plan to roll out a reservation system for educators and organizations in the Puget Sound region in late 2023.
As the possibilities begin to unfold and we make refinements, we would love to hear from the community. Email Partners in Print with your ideas for improving and supporting this hands-on printmaking experience.
Print Kit Ingredients
Each Print Kit includes a beginner-friendly, lightweight, wooden Provisional Press and all of the tools necessary for letterpress poster printing. One key ingredient is Amplify — a sustainable, easy-to-set, CNC-routed bamboo typeface with shoulders that accommodate Spanish accents — designed in collaboration with Columbia Gorge Book Arts.
The contents of PiP’s Print Kit were assembled for their accessibility and capacity to amplify voices, with a focus on sharing words and ideas. While they’re considered valuable in an experiential sense, Print Kit materials are designed to be non-precious, approachable, and easily replenished.
Common Print Kit Questions
How do I request a Print Kit?
Participation in the pilot program is by invitation to organizations, educators, and libraries in the greater Puget Sound region. After the pilot program is completed, a Print Kit request form will be made publicly available. Subscribe to PiP’s mailing list for Print Kit updates.
Individuals and educators located outside of the area are encouraged to build a Print Kit of their own and report back with how it went.
How much does a Print Kit cost?
Borrowing a Print Kit is free! Print Kits are about improving accessibility to letterpress tools. The cost of building and deploying PiP’s Print Kits is supported by donations and grants.
What can I print with a Print Kit?
Print Kits are equipped for printing words and amplifying voices. Depending on the activity, one or many people may use the Kit at one once. There is enough type for one poster design to be printed at a time, in English or Spanish, on a 9″ × 12″ sheet of paper.
How long can I borrow a Print Kit?
You can check out a Print Kit for approximately one week, depending on your programmatic needs. Puget Sound organizations with long-term letterpress plans can work with Partners in Print to secure funding for a Print Kit of their own.
How are the materials in a Print Kit resupplied?
Consumables like paper, gloves, wipes, and shop towels are easily sourced and should be replenished by the user as needed. PiP’s Print Kit Ingredients document provides a list of materials, estimated costs, and sourcing suggestions.
How much space does a Print Kit require?
A Print Kit is 18″ wide x 28″ long x 12.5″ high and weighs approximately 35 pounds. It can be unpacked and used on any flat surface that is at least 5’ long by 2’ wide.
Community Support
The Print Kit program was created in service of the community. Partners in Print is deeply grateful for support from our wonderful donors and the following organizations:
Grassroots donations sustain PiP’s programs. To sponsor the Print Kit program, email Partners in Print. Working together, we amplify our impact and further our missions.