Piccolo Press UK - newsletter

PICCOLO PRESS NEWSLETTER 2010

team picture Thank you for visiting our web site. I hope that you will be able to glean the fact that we are not a large factory based company, but a small team of experts in our specialised field who love what we do and operate together as a "family". We are privileged to be able to work from our lovely old building in the beautiful town of Nairn on the Moray Firth, looking across to the Hills of the Scottish Highlands to the North of us. We are unique in Scotland (and probably the UK) in having all our printing processes and skills under one roof. Thus we have no need to farm any job out and can provide clients world-wide with good turnaround times and a competitive price. And of course the VERY best of products.

John Sinclair continues to lead his letterpress team to further heights of professionalism and skill.

Letterpress Printing

Demand for letterpress printing continues to grow. We have four Heidelberg (10"x15" Windmills) and a Heidelberg Cylinder Press that we use for cutting and creasing and envelope making. With our Polymer Blockmaking facilities we can transfer typography and designs direct to letterpress blocks and then print as if we were using newly cast type. The results are stunning and have even surprised us.

Thus we are using less and less 'case type' but still use many lead dingbats and ornaments from our large collection.

Demand from America for letterpress printing increases by the month, but we are also being approached by many UK designers who have come to realise the beauty in letterpress for many printed specifications and who want something special, rather than 'bog standard' litho.

Engraved Stationery

There is also an increasing demand for engraved stationery and invitations. It would seem that "quality is back" and that people are wanting to return to the 'traditional' even 'old fashioned' look. With so few printers nowadays being able to print on thick card (and also gild and bevel the edges of the cards), we enjoy a steady market. Gordon Gourdie has taken over the lead of Diestamping department and the results speak for themselves. I often wish that clients could appreciate, not only the finished job, but the skill that goes into the production. (Even the cutting out of the 'male force', done with a surgeons scalpel before the job is ever put on a die press, is an achievement by itself).

It should also be mentioned that the pressure of our die presses is one of the reasons why we can produce suck crisp and clear plate sinking.

Tim Honnor continues to be Chairman of the British Engraved Stationery Association (BESA). This requires him to travel to London for meetings and visits to market the Engraved Stationery Industry within the UK. He says "there is still not enough knowledge amongst designers and graphic designers and print buyers.

Paul and Zoe Design Department
Paul White, Zoe Hay and Nicola Young, continue to provide clients with the good design and careful typography for which Piccolo Press is renowned. After initial contact with us, either Zoe, Paul or Nicola will work with you on your order until the proof has been agreed and we are ready to print.

Wedding Stationery
The demand for our traditional and classical wedding stationery continues to grow and grow. By being one of the very few printers in the UK that can print really thick cards, we can offer a product that is very difficult to source elsewhere. However, we are also becoming more "design" orientated and producing invitations that are more modern looking, without becoming tacky. All good fun and challenging for us.