{ CRANKY PRESSMAN USES CREAM COLORED PAPER }

 

¶ Hardly the most sensational news but pretty exciting for a couple of old printers and anyone interested in print design and paper. Classic Natural White (as it's manufacturer calls it) is the 5th selection in Cranky's Choices range of house paper stocks and brings designers a natural warm smooth-printing option (sort of the opposite the pressman himself). It is made by Neenah Paper as part of their Classic Crest range. We pontificate on about our paper choices elsewhere in this site but decided to take this opportunity to explain a few things here in more boring detail. Paper nerds start your engines.

Cranky's Choices paper range (left to right)  Classic Natural, 100% Recycled, Pure White, Black & Chipboard

    The five stocks in the Cranky's Choices range are produced by different paper mills and were selected for creative versatility, letterpress printability, and ecological friendliness. They also go together nicely so can be mixed and matched in multi-piece print design projects. Matching house envelopes are also available for each stock. Online ordering of letterpress printed flat and folded card lines with complimenting envelopes will soon be offered.

CREATIVE RESPONSIBILITY
 

    Classic Natural is made with 100% post consumer waste as is the paper we've not so cleverly given the moniker of 100% Recycled. Besides color, creatively the biggest difference between the two is Classic Natural has a  smooth surface so produces a quite fine letterpress print while the 100% Recycled stock prints well but slightly rougher due to a more textured surface. It it worth keeping paper characteristics in mind when creating artwork and images. Both our house Black and Chipboard stocks are also made from 100% recycled materials. Because of a rougher surface containing actual recycled bits, chipboard is not intended for fine printing but the right bold and ballsy design letterpress printed on this stock looks damn fine in its own right. Printing on the Black stock has its own unique creative implications to consider. For those new to the game, additional information on designing for letterpress can be found in our Letterpress Trade School section.

    Like the stock selections themselves, we also choose paper suppliers that are keenly interested in environmental responsibility including our two main suppliers Neehah and French Paper Co. Recycled content, reduction of chlorine bleaching and other green efforts such as carbon offsetting of manufacturing processes is controlled by a mix of standards and certification organizations too complicated to cover in one post. Cranky Pressman strongly believes in promoting the responsible use of paper products and inks. Fortunately the letterpress medium allows us to use higher recycled content papers as compared to offset or digital printing which rely more heavily on smoother and brighter white sheets. We plan to continue to improve our environmental efforts whenever possible.

PICTURING PAPER ONLINE

    Paper and letterpress printing are difficult to show accurately on the web. The surface texture and bite impression that makes letterpress so attractive is nearly impossible to capture without dramatic lighting which tends to make papers appear much darker online than they really are. Although bothersome online, this also illustrates why relief printed images are still popular and not likely to be totally replaced by the digital variety anytime too soon. It is also a good reason to get your hands on the real thing by requesting one of our free sample packs. It gives the paper lover something to droll over. Due to the high costs of providing them, our old free paper sample packs are no longer available. However, we still will send you a great paper swatch and letterpress samples for a small fee that is refunded with your first letterpress printing offer. See details here.

Also see our other house paper ranges: Lettra Line » & Stocky Weights »