Because of the annoyance of posting from my phone, I've decided to make a multi-post update for this week... We did a lot, so this might take a little while.
We have now learned how to use all of the Vandercook presses. There are three.
The SP-15 (a.k.a. the "Front Press") which is used for slightly smaller items because it is a little smaller in size. We printed the first Coffee layer on it, but we can't print the second because it is just slightly too large. We also used it to print 2-color postcards & 2-color thank you cards for the Country Music Hall of Fame. A big difference between the "Front Press" and the other presses is that the bed can't be adjusted. Since it's a Proof Press the press bed isn't even type high, but slightly larger so you could slip a galley tray into the press. Because of this, Hatch has a metal plate in the press (the same height as a galley) and to adjust it further, you slip paper between that metal plate and the press bed. The one thing you have to remember is to listen for the clicks. It should click twice when you get to the end of the press. If you don't hear the two clicks, whatever you are printing will print a copy on the tympan and then continue to print on the back of your future prints until it runs out of ink. In other words, a pain and a total "D'oh" moment.
The Universal 1 (a.k.a. the "Mid Press"). It's a great press and pretty much everything can be printed on it. If the job is over 150 (or so) or it is slightly larger than the normal Hatch size, then it usually gets kicked to the "Back Press." We printed some of the second Coffee layer on the Uni 1, and we printed all of the "The Party is This Way" on it. As well as a few jobs for the other Hatch employees.
The "Back Press" is a Vandercook Universal 3. It is a semi-automatic press. I really didn't think I would enjoy printing on it, but it is crazy awesome. The biggest thing about it (other than its size) is you get to stand in one spot instead of following the cylinder of the press down the press bed. All you have to do (and this is pretty simplified) is load the paper into the grippers and press a toggle button. The paper goes down the press bed and you press another button to bring it back. When you bring it back, the paper goes up two little straps and comes back right where you loaded it in (I'll try and get a picture or a video to show this, because it's kind of hard to explain.) We printed an 800 count 3-color poster on it as well as the first layer of another poster and the beginning of a 1000 count 2-color poster.
I should also say that when I say "we" I generally mean the 4 interns of which I am one. However for some of the posters we haven't been the only ones printing (like the 800 count 3-color poster). We (interns) haven't been setting up the client posters for printing either, I believe we are going to start learning that next week, but for this past week (for client jobs) we have been helping out with the printing. If that makes sense...
Anyway. those are the presses.
Next up, The Part is Totally This Way.
