Bitmap Wooden Type

(post drafted in June'o9 - published June'11)

5x7 bitmap font

Out of interest of all things media arts related this project marries new technology with old technology in the form of a bitmap wooden font set. Being the mass communication granddaddy to our current digital media, both based on a grid matrix, it was inevitable they should hook-up. The type set will be used to print a series of broadsides and sample sheets, with the wooden blocks making interesting objects themselves. General tech info and photos should help reveal the methods and materials used, updates to follow. Note that the key equipment being used is a CNC router. Not something anyone really just haves in the garage. Sorry.

plank and cut block

First step was to create an illustrator file of a bitmap font, this one being 5x7 (.5" square) which means the type blocks will be 2.5"x3.5". The wood of oak is traditional here in the States, so it was chosen. It is also cost effective. Traditionally the wood preferred for type is end grain maple or oak - this is not cost effective. Most hardwoods are apparently fine, and in a pinch you can use some pines and even particle boards. Of course the stability of the material is dependent on your application(s) or point of view. So, a few planks of oak were milled down neatly to square and a precision 15/16th" letterpress bed height. These were admired and then their undersides were layered in heavy double stick tape to be stuck down to the router's bed. The router then went to work hogging and cutting out the letter blocks.

hogging with a 1/8th bit @ 18000 rpm


varathaned set

The second phase is the printing, which requires a press. I am using a Vandercook model 4 and have enlisted the help of print master Shanna Mahan. Restricted by the press bed being 14" x 17" we have to print the font set in two parts, the dimension of which works out to be 14" x 29.5". The first series has the characters butted up against each other, with 1/32" of kerning and letting occuring naturally, using black rubber ink on 80lb eggshell Mohawk paper. Subsequent prints will be 3 or 4 colours exploring both the RGB and CMYK systems and likely on a brilliant white paper stock of some sort.

Shanna locking down the Vandercook


first half of first edition