The Printing and Small Press section of this site is no longer current and is present only as an archive for informational purposes. Following is the original description of the blog.
Sub-Ton is a personal blog about the art and culture of small press printing and design. I've always thought of the small format offset press as a prefect symbol of self-reliance, independence, and unlimited freedom of expression. Manageable size, cost, and powerful capability have allowed these machines to transform almost any space into literary or art publishing houses, job shops, or manufacturing plants. Even on a humble budget the "power of the press" is accessible through these machines and it's wrapped up in a compact package, a marvel of mechanical systems beautifully synchronized within in a tidy footprint. Zine, chapbook, and 7" record jacket work introduced me to the tradition of small format offset printing. Through these projects I met printers who very skillfully (and/or creatively) used Multilith, Hamada, Heidelberg, AB Dick, Chief, and Davidson presses to produce amazing work. These folks inspired me to become a printer in the 1990s. I hope this blog will serve to celebrate the "sub-ton" offset press and the micro-manufacturing spirit, maybe recognize some of the cultural and social contributions of this printing tradition, and document some of the stories of the printers who have made these presses a part of their lives. I'd love to hear from you if you have printing stories to share or any other ideas for this blog. There's an email button at the top of this page or you can feel free to contact me here: Stumptown Printers Happy printing! Eric Bagdonas Comments are closed.
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