If Gutenberg raised his head, he wouldn’t acknowledge his invention amongst toners and digital printers. The identical wouldn’t occur to him if he entered L’Anacrònica, one of many final artisan printers that work with lead sorts in Barcelona. Its proprietor, Arnau Estela, discovered to make use of the machines self-taught and opened the enterprise along with Adrià Galicia, an skilled in display printing. He arrange the enterprise within the Sant Andreu neighborhood of Barcelona 10 years in the past. Now they’re pressured to depart the neighborhood as a result of rise in rental costs.
Arnau began working very younger in graphic arts. In one of many crises within the sector and on the age of 30, he enrolled in a graphic design profession: “There I found the typography laboratory of the University of Barcelona and found the wave of ‘New Letter Press’ (new typographic printing), which within the United States and Canada he recovered artisan printing methods”, he recollects. He went again to fundamentals as a substitute of delving into digital and internet design, with safer profession paths.
Along with Adrià, they recovered a number of typesetting machines. One of them is a 1905 Minerva that they purchased from an previous man from Llicà “for a small value”. The different two, 50 years previous, lay forgotten within the warehouse of a junk seller from Esparreguera: “We took a spot and paid the hire like somebody who pays a gymnasium price. We got here as a result of it was a passion. We mounted the machines, we have been testing and studying on the go. Little by little the primary orders got here out”, remembers Arnau.
Combination of varieties of lead on an ironiusdiario.es
The prints of L’Anacrònica combine the composition of the lead letters of the artisan printing press with modern processes: “We adapt the machines to mount plates of extra fashionable designs,” he explains. The architects acknowledge that this return to the origins is just not as profitable as on the opposite facet of the pond: “We earn a residing however we is not going to get wealthy,” they clarify.
The letter sunk on the paper
Arnau and Adrià defend the advantages of artisan printing over digital: “We can work with heavier papers, individuals just like the letter sunk on the paper. As it’s an artisan print, each bit has a singular character,” they acknowledge. . The century-old approach additionally has its limitations: “We print with direct inks, we do not print pictures with 4 inks and we make small print runs as a result of the costs are greater,” he acknowledges. printing prices
Design studios are amongst their predominant purchasers: “They do not come again each month as a result of we make a really particular impression, however they arrive again once they search for these outcomes,” explains Arnau.
Business playing cards are essentially the most printed product at L’Anacrònica: “I feel it’s as a result of they don’t seem to be used now, and there are professionals who need to present that they care for the main points and a job effectively executed. We print playing cards for photographers, architects, designers and professions the place the picture is vital”, he explains. They additionally print restaurant menus, wine labels, e-book covers, and particular version vinyl data. His purchasers embody musicians corresponding to Tarta Relena or John Talabot.
The printers have additionally created a hand stamp undertaking. The newest work he’s pleased with is the quilt of the 2022 FAD Architecture Awards, “a four-color display print in bronze, silver, and white,” he explains.
L’Anacrònica is likely one of the few areas that maintains the standard impression in Barcelona. This December they have fun their tenth anniversary however they guarantee that they must depart Barcelona as a result of rental costs: “We are in an previous warehouse, from when the neighborhood was a city, however the proprietor has offered it and they will construct residences. We didn’t discover something in good situation circumstances and at an reasonably priced value”, they clarify. They are searching for a brand new workshop within the Maresme area.