Today’s class was really eye opening. After reading and hearing about the different printing presses, it was really cool to get to try and use one. I wasn’t expecting to feel such a difference between the words on a page from press versus ones from a digital printer. I also gained a greater appreciation for those who specialize in these presses. If it takes hours to lay out a small paragraph, I can’t even imagine having to print books. I didn’t realize how tedious the process could be.
I was also very surprised at how different the words from the press felt in comparison to words from a digital printer. I was not really expecting much of a difference, but after feeling the words from the press I was immediately shocked by how nice the words felt and how much of a difference they made to my reading experience.
Like the author I also didn’t realize how much of a craft it was to print. It really is an art form and that can not be understood until it is witnessed in person. I gained a whole other level of appreciation and respect for printers who do this sort of thing.
What surprised me most about the printing experience was getting the printed sheet back and seeing the indent that the printed words made on the page. It was a very nice touch that added a sense of life to the page. It is a shame that books in the modern era don’t have this small but elegant touch to them.