Setting letters of wood or metal, in real sizes, in real spaces, used to be the only way to create printed words. As a craft tool, the letterpress imparts a distinctly tangible quality on a design; the result of a mechanical process, each piece produced is likely to be sprinkled with a dusting of imperfections that makes it organic and real—a lucky treat for some projects today.
An art student describes the tedium and joy of letterpress class.