As AI infiltrates each a part of the inventive course of, these dedicated to human expression have discovered progressive methods to make craft and artistry endlessly interesting. Inventive director Jason Pattinson is one such particular person. He’s behind Fleckled, a brand new on-line store of hand-printed letterpress typefaces which have been digitized and can be found as high-resolution downloads.
At the moment, Fleckled accommodates greater than 150 fonts printed on an 1860s-era Columbian press, with extra on the best way. All can be found in both uppercase, lowercase, or numeral units with further ornaments and borders throughout myriad kinds. Retaining the signature graininess and heat of the wooden, every additionally is available in two variations: one with a thicker, extra saturated ink and one other with a lighter, extra distressed really feel.
“The small flaws in the hand-carved wooden blocks are what give letterpress its distinctive character and enduring appeal,” Pattinson says. “Visible defects, woodgrain, planing patterns, and wear effects have been balanced through various levels of inking and pressure to achieve the optimal dense and distressed versions.”
Pattinson and his group have been engaged on digitizing letterpress for greater than 20 years. He’s collaborated with printers and sellers throughout Italy, Sweden, Germany, Argentina, the U.S., and the U.Okay., the place he’s based mostly.
“We’re in discussions with a few retired printers who own some truly remarkable private collections, exploring opportunities to digitise and sublicense their fonts and various assets to expand our online resource,” Pattinson advised Design Week.
As Fleckled grows, it makes the medium extra extensively accessible and provides an alternative choice to AI technology for individuals who may be within the letterpress aesthetic with out entry to a press.
Pattison launched the store as a result of he wished “to make these timeless assets available to a new generation of creatives.” He shares with Colossal, “It fills me with a great confidence that in a world being overwhelmed with AI, the design community is resolute in authenticity!”
