We believe
We believe
books and zines can be beautiful and thoughtfully crafted.
sharing our stories can inspire new ideas and create positive change.
community events and education connects us and builds resiliency.
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What is a micropress?
What is a micropress?
A micropress usually publishes small editions of books; for us, this is between 100-300 copies. We appreciate and find joy in making books by hand, although this isn't a requirement of a micropress.
Our Process
Our Process
Our books are made almost entirely by hand. The papers we work with include recycled papers from mills such as French Paper and Mohawk, based in the United States. We also make paper by hand from recycled rags and other natural material and scrap paper from the studio.
We use a variety of historical and contemporary printing techniques including letterpress, risograph, screen printing, inkjet, and laser. Our choice depends on the content of the project and the papers we print on. For instance, handmade paper prints beautifully with letterpress, but not usually with laser printing. And if we want a cloth binding, that would probably need to be screen printed.
After papermaking and printing comes bookbinding. We cut, fold, sew, and glue books by hand in a variety of structures such as pamphlets, accordion fold, flatback hardcover, and stab-stitch.
The Team
The Team
Illuminated Press is operated by Laura Rowley, a book artist, educator, and director of the Lodi Whittier Library. Laura first discovered book arts while attending Wells College. She then earned her master's degree at the University of Alabama. Since then, she has dedicated her work to share and honor the book as a material and cultural object. To learn more, please visit her CV.
Friends and collaborators have provided much appreciated assistance to many Illuminated Press projects in the form of editing and help with production.
On the left Adam Bryant and Laura beat Kozo fibers by hand.
On the right Laura tables with Clover, a middle schooler who published her first book, Trouble Cat.
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