I love design, I love print, and I love tattoos (it’s printing on skin!). So when the local chapter of the AIGA called and asked us if we’d be willing to donate printing to help promote an event called “Full Bleed, The Design and Tattoo Experience” the answer was a definite yes.

We’ll take any opportunity to support AIGA SLC because no matter what they’re up to it’s guaranteed to be great, but this one was really fantastic. The plan was to host a party to showcase the artwork and design of local tattoo artists. The talented Dan Christofferson (beeteeth.com) was to provide the design and illustration, and we would print a poster and postcard for the event. The 16.5″x23″ poster and 6″x9″ postcard both featured an illustration that was a clever combination of traditional tattoo iconography peppered with printing and design jargon. The outcome was amazing and pushed the limits of modern letterpress with very heavy ink coverage and super tight registration.

Things got even better when the decision was made to hold the event at our new 8,000 square foot building, which we had not yet moved into. The folks of the AIGA did an amazing job with the place and Epic Brewery provided beverages for all. Rumor has it there were even a few tattoos received to commemorate the event.

The poster was printed on our behemoth 21″x28″ Heidelberg S Model Cylinder press. The thing is a true wonder and beautiful to watch. Its cylinder alone weighs as much as one whole Vandercook Number 4 proof press.

The postcard was printed on our Frontex Automatic, a tiny wonder of German ingenuity that has become a real asset to our shop. With a maximum sheet size of only 10″x15″ it’s essentially a miniature version of the Heidelberg cylinders but it packs quite a punch.

It was all printed on 100# Mohawk Superfine which was graciously supplied by Zellerbach.