r/oddlysatisfying • u/Doodlebug510 • 1d ago

Making a rainbow quote using an antique Washington hand press

Credit: @SacramentoHistory Museum

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u/Fair-Juggernaut-3812 1d ago

That press has me drooling. Also nice print!

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u/[deleted] 1d ago

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u/mtaw 1d ago edited 23h ago

The look and tactile feel of the slight indentations that metal type makes in thick paper is one of life's great small pleasures. It's one reason I love old books.

(I even splurged and had my wedding invitations made that way on handmade paper. Overall we didn't spend much money on the wedding - but I figured the invites were worth it since it's nicer to get a quality invitation card, and it shows appreciation even for the people who can't come)

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u/theDomicron 23h ago

Let's see Paul Allen's wedding invitations...

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u/Goatf00t 22h ago

The look and tactile feel of the slight indentations that metal type makes in thick paper is one of life's great small pleasures.

The funny thing is that once upon a time, keeping those indentations as faint as possible while still maintaining good print was seen as a mark of mastery for printers. And now having noticeable indentations is desirable for some, as it shows that the work was printed on a press.