New Impressions

New Impressions documents the design and production of a fully 3D printed letterpress and type pieces, reimagining the historical letterpress through contemporary technologies. Because the type pieces are interchangeable with traditional metal pieces, the design process was unique. The 3D-printed letterpress and its printed type pieces were tested using both traditional equipment and techniques. 3D modeling was also used to accelerate the illustration process.

I designed and built a website to document the process through the lens of a fictitious open-source letterpress company that produces 3D-printed letterpress and type piece designs. The site would allow users to download and print 3D files, shop for prefabricated parts, and request custom designs. Offering guides to learn how to print, build, and operate the letterpress and type pieces. An extensive image gallery details the company’s research, design, and development of the 3D-printed letterpress and type pieces.