paper

what is the recycled fiber content of your papers?

a: all of our paper is made from 100% recycled fibers and is at least 30% post-consumer waste.

what’s the difference between “recycled” and “post-consumer recycled?”

a: pre-consumer fiber is material collected before it reaches the end user and is mainly from paper manufacturers, printers,
and converters.post-consumer waste: material that is collected from end-users and recycled.  post consumer fiber is the preferred form of recycled materials because it reduces pressure on our remaining forests, saves water and energy, and diverts solid waste from our landfills.

why don’t you use 100% post-consumer fibers?

a: while we would love to make all of our papers out of 100% PCW fibers, the irregular color and texture limits our ability to
control the quality of the end product. since some of our papers are being made for projects that require very specific colors and textures we find that using the pre-consumer fiber allows us to maintain our standard in quality and consistency. if you are interested in doing a project with 100% post-consumer fiber please feel free to contact us about the possibilities and minimums required.

how thick is your paper?

a: our standard weight paper is comparable to a 110lb cardstock weight or 22 point board. the paper is handmade, so this
may vary ever so slightly. if you are interested in thicker or thinner sheets for a specific project just contact us and we’ll let you know what we can do!

how much paper can you produce, and how long does it take?

a: we can produce over 6,000 parent sheets per week when the workload calls for it, however most of the time we average roughly 1,200-1,500 sheets per week. depending on how full our schedule is and the size of the job we can get most paper orders packaged and shipped within 2-3 weeks from the date we receive the purchase order and deposit. it is always a good idea to check with us on scheduling when placing your order.

seeds

what are the planting instructions for your papers?

a: our generic planting instructions usually consist of something like the following:
“this handmade paper is embedded with (__herb/wildflower__) seeds that will grow almost anywhere. moisten card and plant just under the surface of some soil in a sunny spot. water regularly until seeds germinate and watch them grow!”
for specific seeds, such as tree seeds, the planting instructions may vary. please feel free to contact us if you need instructions for a specific seed.

what types of seeds work best for which projects?

a: generally speaking, we choose seeds that are small and easy to print on, that are also easy to grow. we have made paper with a variety of seeds that range from the barely visible to the practically edible (pine and spruce seeds) however, larger seeds are not suitable for projects that involve most printing. if you’re interested in using larger seeds such as tree seeds, it’s a good idea to stick to projects that involve die cutting and mounting. even smaller hard seeds can and will damage the plates used for letterpress printing, resulting in damaged type and splotchy solids. the best way to find out whether or not a specific seed will work for your project is to contact us.

certain seeds can also cause slight discoloration of the paper. usually this is minimal and does not take away from the quality of the finished product (see photo below). due to the unpredictable nature of organic matter, we can’t guarantee whether or not the seeds will bleed.

to see a list of seeds that we commonly use visit the plantable paper page.

how does your paper compare to commercially-made seeded papers?

a: our papers are all made by hand and air dried. this way, the seeds endure as little as possible. commercially made seeded papers are often commercially dried with heat. this essentially roasts the seeds which will prevent germination.

what other factors would affect seed germination?

a: we try to add as little as we can to our seeded papers. while our pigments aren’t harmful in any way, we try to stay away from using richer darker colors that would require us to add more pigments, and pigment retention agents. these papers can still be made and will still grow, but we generally advise against it, especially for larger runs.

does offset printing hinder germination in seeded paper?

a: no. while some seeds are too large to be fed through an offset press, the smaller seeds such as those found in our stock papers feed and print beautifully and will still grow after being printed. they may take a few extra days to germinate, but they will still grow.

printing

can your paper be offset printed?

a: YES! we work with a local printing company that does phenomenal work with our papers. we’ve also sold to a number of other printing and finishing companies around the world that have had great success with our papers.

does offset printing hinder germination in seeded paper?

a: no. while some seeds are too large to be fed through an offset press, the smaller seeds such as those found in our stock papers feed and print beautifully and will still grow after being printed. they may take a few extra days to germinate and the germination rate is lower, but some will still grow.

can I print on your papers at home on my inkjet or laser printer?

a: yes. we have tested our papers on several different inkjet and laser printers and have had no problem. the quality will not be as good as a commercially printed piece, and we can’t guarantee that your printer will be able to withstand larger quantities, but they’ll still print.

do you use soy based ink for your letterpress printing?

a: yes. actually, most printing inks are already soy based. the soy content in the ink is what varies. or some nonsense like that. does it sound like I know what I’m talking about? because I don’t. sparkstationery has an article about it.

what is your letterpress turnaround time?

a: depending on our schedule we can usually ship out a job within 1-2 weeks from the date we receive the purchase order, deposit, and final artwork. if you are using handmade paper for your job, we may require an additional 1-2 weeks. please contact us for current scheduling information before placing your order so that we can be sure to get it to you in time.

when designing for letterpress, what are some general guidelines to follow?

a: to get a better idea of what letterpress printing actually is, and to see some examples visit the letterpress studio.
designing for letterpress can be tricky. there are countless variables that can affect the outcome of a design. if you have specific questions about your design please feel free to us for advice. here are a few issues that we commonly address:

solids: we print solids on our press all the time without a problem, though when the design covers a large surface area, the color depth and consistency become more difficult to hold. we always do everything in our power to maintain consistency in our ink coverage, but when designing a project for letterpress please always keep in mind that the process and machinery are over a century old and some variance is likely.

halftones/screens: it is possible to print halftones and screens with letterpress printing, but the process is best suited for printing colors at 100%. if you are interested in printing in a lighter color, we recommend using a lighter shade of ink instead of a screen. the crisp quality desired when using letterpress can be lost and muddled when a screen is used.

fine lines: exquisite detail can be achieved with letterpress printing, but lines smaller than .3 point line width will be lost. if your design has very fine lines or fonts please us to see whether or not any adjustments should be made.

light ink on dark paper: with letterpress, we use translucent inks. printing light ink on dark paper will be like using a thin coat of white paint on a dark wall: you’ll see the wall color through the paint, resulting in a milky effect which is sometimes exactly what we want. If your design incorporates darker papers please for advice on printing lighter inks.

printing size: our largest print area is 9 x 12 inches. the largest sheet we can run on our letterpress is 10 x 16 inches. if your job requires a larger sheet size please contact us so that we can recommend the best method for you to get the results you’re looking for.

ordering

how do I place my order?

a: the best way to go about ordering from us is to us the specs for your job for a price estimate. from there we’ll address any design issues and get all the details worked out. once you’re satisfied with the quote, we take a 50% non-refundable deposit along with your signed estimate and design approval. next we will secure your job on our schedule and get to work!

can I get a proof?

a: due to the nature of letterpress, it is impossible for us to provide a proof while in production.we consider the final PDF of the design to be a digital proof. we can however provide an ink jet proof for a small fee. we do our best to work with you on your designs before we begin printing to avoid any possible issues.

what are my payment options?

a: we require a 50% non-refundable deposit before we began work on a project, and the remaining balance plus shipping paid before we ship your pieces. we accept visa, mastercard, and american express for payments. with agencies, corporate clients, or universities, we can work from a PO.

how will my order be shipped?

a: we usually ship via UPS ground unless other arrangements have been made. shipping is billed and paid for with the balance payment for each job. if you would like us to use an alternate method or account please contact us to make arrangements.

what is your return/exchange policy?

a: if for any reason you are not completely satisfied with your order, we'll be happy to provide you with a refund or an exchange. iIf it was a custom order, we are unable to process a refund, however, if the problem was our error we’ll be happy to remake or reprint your job for you. please note that we can only refund shipping and handling costs if the return is a result of our error.

all orders from porridge papers are 100% satisfaction guaranteed. if you are not entirely pleased with your order, and we'll do everything we can to take care of your concerns.