To feed your hunger for more letterpress knowledge, check out the DesignCast Freaks of Fancy, and Everything You Wanted to Know About Wild, 19-Century Printing Techniques.
9. Paper choices are important in letterpress printing. Papers that are toothier/softer and 100% cotton will show the impression the best. These types of paper are fluffier, so they have a bit more room to show off impression, and the toothiness is ironed out when printed, giving a varied texture, which makes the impression even more visible. Stiffer, smoother papers will typically not show as much impression, but can still yield nice results. Smoother papers are better if you have a larger area of solid ink coverage, as they are not as absorbent. (ex:9a)
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Kudos and thanks to Kat for such an informative article.
The information contained in her article should help designers get the most out of letterpress, and not go down paths that cause frustration and disapointment.
One other point I would like to share is that the final look of a specified color is dependent upon the chosen substrate. The color on your screen may be quite different from the printed piece. A Pantone book is an investment, but wise one.
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