What Traditional Graphic Design Technology Does Work by Hatch Show Print Employ for Their Posters?

Hatch Show Print is a legendary print shop located in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1879 by brothers Charles and Herbert Hatch, the shop has earned its reputation as one of the most influential and respected poster printers in the world.

For generations, the Hatch family has been crafting iconic posters for some of the biggest acts in show business, from Elvis Presley to Taylor Swift. While other printing companies have embraced digital technology, Hatch Show Print continues to rely on traditional graphic design technology for its hand-made posters.

Hatch Show Print relies on an impressive array of old-school printing techniques to create their unique posters. They use a variety of vintage presses and machinery, including treadle-powered Vandercooks and wooden letterpresses.

Other tools include wood type, metal type, blocks, borders and cuts (wooden engravings). All these components are used to create beautiful posters with vivid colors and intricate details.

The process begins with creating artwork. Hatch Show Print’s designers sketch out a concept on paper or draw up a design digitally.

Once they’ve settled on an idea, they use a variety of techniques to transfer it onto printing plates or blocks. This involves cutting or etching metal or wood type into shapes that match the desired design.

Once the artwork is ready to go, it is placed onto one of Hatch Show Print’s presses and then printed onto thick paper stock using water-based inks. The resulting prints are hand-crafted works of art that capture the flavor of vintage poster art.

Conclusion

Hatch Show Print employs traditional graphic design technology such as wood type, metal type, blocks, borders and cuts to create their iconic hand-made posters. Their designers draw up a concept either by hand or digitally before transferring it onto printing plates or blocks. The artwork is then printed onto thick paper stock using water-based inks before being given a unique vintage finish.