Off the Hanger: Bindery Dept.

When I was cutting my teeth in the design world, I spent about a year waiting for a position to open in the design department at a print shop. During that year I worked bindery, and I have to say it was really a great experience. Pretty thankless, but a trial by fire job of paying attention to details and more importantly learning to let equipment do the work for you. Printing must have been in the blood for my family, the pic below is my grandfather working the press back in the day.

Tee
Apron (usually free from the paper reps)
Alvin Draft Matics (what I used, but I swear the pressmen could hone a better point on their old Ticonderogas)
Keys
Olfa Cutter (I still have mine, they are really the best)
Printer’s Loupe (what the pressmen would use to show me how good they were)
Pantone Swatchbook
Pica Pole
Birkenstock London
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