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This article writes the basic step of type creation, punchcutting, out of the story. It's crucial and exacting, while many other letterpress process are mechanical and unskilled. A lot of letterpress fans seem to fetishize processes and outcomes that are actually not that special.

See http://www.dandad.org/en/kumar-and-lost-art-punchcutting/

Edit: here's a better video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eExllUeGtvc

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It also only makes passing reference to more modern photopolymer plates as well as the Linotype[1] method of setting type. My grandfather started is career in the newspaper business and they were still using a linotype back then.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linotype_machine

There's a recent socumentary on the linotype machine. http://www.linotypefilm.com/

The mechanical binary coding of matrices used to return them to their hoppers via the distribution mechanism is intriguing.

That "better" video is worth watching. (It's a series of videos.) I've never seen the full process demonstrated. Thanks.

The lead exposure is sobering.

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