Letterpress printing is a process of printing from the surface of a raised image. The compositor gets and locks the movable type into the bed of the press, inks it and press paper against it to transfer the ink from the type. This process contains four stages which are composition, imposition, lock up and printing. Composition also known as typesetting is when all the movable type pieces are put into the desired text. After selecting the individual type letters you place them in a composing stick that can hold several lines and transfer them to a larger type galley. Next is the imposition, so the compositor gets the type being converted into a form that is ready for the printing press. So imposition is the technique of arranging the pages and depending on the size of the paper several pages can be printed on the same page. When printing is done they are cut and trimmed before they are folded or binding. Low-height pieces of metal furniture create the blank areas on the page. Lock-up happens before printing which is when the printer moves the cords holding the type together and a key locks the entire complex of type with the blocks and furniture and frame into place. Last is the printing there is on person that put the ink on the press so when the type presses against it the ink gets picked up and one person to work the machine pulling the lever to apply the paper to the press.
