Unique, Cool, LetterPress Printing in Grand Rapids, MI

Connie and Larry walked into Swift Printing on Bridge Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan holding their precious treasure. In their hands was an old cut, roughly 6x8 inches, of a map of Michigan.

If you know me, I love this type of stuff. Any opportunity to marry a couple of my favorite interests: Grand Rapids Printing and Michigan history. 

As I learned the brief history of the couples’ cuts and what they were hoping to do with them, I eagerly wanted to do the project. 

I showed the cut to our team and asked, “Do you think we could do this?” Like everything in printing, it’s a craft. Whether it’s a digital file or a wood backed cut from the 1930’s, you never truly know if it will work out the way you planned.  However, with our Grand Rapids printing team's history and experience, I knew this would be fun and exciting. The only catch was that they needed them Swiftly in a few days for their big event. 

I explained to Connie, there’s a chance we could lose some details, but overall I think this is a good fit for Swift Printing. After all, we do put Swift on the door. 

Most printing projects take us about three to five days once sent to production, but for a project like this we would normally like a couple of weeks.  

I swiftly put an estimate together for the couple and they went home to grab the other cut they were hoping to have prints made from as well. 

They only wanted a handful of prints per design.

I explained how with letterpress printing most of your cost of printing is in the set up. Once it’s up and running it’s smoother sailing. Now, I have to admit, I actually have never set up a letterpress printing job. I’ve had the honor to watch my grandpa Walt Gutowski Sr. do it.

More about Walt, founder of Swift Printing here

Also, Adam has shown me more than a handful of times how to set up the Kluge for Letterpress Printing. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is, like everything, you just have to practice. I like to take notes. Adam explained, well, more so showed me - it’s a feeling. He’s an artist and it is fun to watch him hone in on his craft.

This project was a huge success. Adam made the prints look so good and the customers were ecstatic with the finished product.

They even brought me a copy of the write up of the family property that the cuts were an advertisement for. Take a look here.

Thank you Larry and Connie for trusting us with your family heirloom. Letting us create prints of Michigan using your cuts on our letterpress machine was an honor.  I’m sure you will cherish these prints forever.

More about Swift Printing

Swift Printing, a Grand Rapids, MI based print shop, does digital printing, offset printing, letterpress printing, and even has a walk up copy center. We have deep roots in our community and will lean over forward to operate a press Swiftly to meet your deadline and get you the best quality printing. For more information about Swift Printing please visit our website at SwiftPrinting.com 

Larry and Connie gave us permission to share these photos and information on our website and social media.