Wood type is the medium….

And if the medium is the message, then wood type is a bull horn! Wood type is mostly large, all caps, strong and bold. It is one of the oldest typesetting techniques for printing. Individual letters were painstakingly routed out of polished hardwood, put into an alphabet collection and sold to printers far and wide. These printers used what they had and even had to be resourceful when they didn’t have enough of a certain letter.

They would arraigned the letters into words and then create the message to be printed. These days real wood type is used more for its form than function, along with a vast collection of fake woodsy digital fonts and filters that rough up the message to proclaim that this whisky was hand crafted or that truck is bad ass.

Wood type has also became the voice for activist, poets, or even modern day philosophers. Amos Kennedy is all that and more. In fact his prints are currently adorning a whole wing at the Butler Art Museum. OK, maybe not a wing but a whole room! His unique voice covers the walls from floor to ceiling. A must visit if you are near Youngstown Ohio anytime until March 30th.

Mikey Burton has been printing his brand of posters and post cards for years and years. His design chops blend perfectly with the rustic wood type and letterpress process. His slightly twisted, in a good way, view of the world is witty, sometimes profound, and always amusing.

Here at Cranky Press we want to make this medium available to all. Wood type can be set to print multiples to advertise, or a one-off to inspire or motivate, or print, repro and scanned to work in all the modern venues. Its distinct look can enhance your brand, your next BBQ, or just your next inspiring wall hanging. The possibilities are endless… and timeless.

Email me at crankypress@gmail.com