Letterpress printing
Printing with raised metal or wooden type and a press, leaving a crisp impression in paper.
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Startup cost
$100–$300
Difficulty
Steep learning curve
Typical session
~180 min
Activity
Light movement
Space
A dedicated corner or room
Equipment
Specialist tools
What do you actually do?
- Set type by hand into a composing stick
- Ink and print on a tabletop or platen press
- Print cards, posters and broadsides
Why people enjoy it
- Tactile, historic craft
- Beautiful, deep impressions
- Often learned in community print studios
What you'll need
- Access to a press — usually through a community print shop or class
- Type, ink, paper
Startup cost: $100–$300 — a rough beginner estimate in US dollars (2026). Borrowing, secondhand and library kits can bring it down.
Time & difficulty
A typical session is about 180 minutes. Steep learning curve: expect a longer runway — a class helps a lot.
Getting started
- Search for a community print shop or arts center offering intro classes
- Learn to set a line of type
- Print a simple card
- Try mixing type and a linocut block
Common beginner mistakes
- Buying a press before trying one
- Over-inking
- Mixing up type fonts in the case
Accessibility
Presses can be heavy to operate; studios vary in physical accessibility.
Courses & resources
We haven't verified specific courses yet, so we're not listing any rather than guessing. Libraries, community centers and the official sites of tools you use are good first stops.