CHAMPAIGN, IL (PRWEB).- LetterMpress™, an app just released for the Apple iPad, gives users the hands-on experience of working with traditional letterpress wood type, art cuts, and printing press techniques. Every step of the letterpress printing process is replicated on the iPad for the authentic feel and experience of traditional printing techniques. Users select and assemble vintage wood type and art images, mix colors and ink the type, select paper, and hand-crank the virtual letterpress to produce graphic designs for prints, posters, books, invitations, greeting cards, photo albums and more.

The new app enables finished letterpress designs to be printed, shared via email, Photo Album, posted to Facebook, Tumblr and other social media, or output to graphics applications for incorporating into larger design projects. LetterMpress offers the flexibility and image quality for professional graphic designers, and is easy enough and enjoyable for beginners to use, too.

"As someone very familiar with letterpress, I was amazed and thrilled to see the creators took time to accurately and respectfully integrate the traditional tools and processes into the user experience. It's also a fun and playful introduction to the art of letterpress and typography," said Mary Austin, Co-founder and Board President, San Francisco Center for the Book. Neenah Paper, the world's leading manufacturer of fine printing papers, is sponsoring the introduction of the LetterMpress app. CRANE'S LETTRA® Papers, a 100% cotton fiber paper manufactured by Neenah, is considered by many designers and printers to be the most revered paper for beautiful letterpress work.

The LetterMpress iPad app comes with images of 13 vintage wood typefaces, dozens of art cuts, custom ink mixing, and a selection of paper stock. Type and art content will be added to the app in future select updates from the LetterMpress type collection, and as it is acquired from collectors and printers around the world. The virtual printing press in the app is based on a Vandercook SP-15, one of several owned by the app's developer.

LetterMpress is available now on the App Store. Additional information and a video demonstration of the app can be found on the app's Web site.

LetterMpress for the iPad is developed by mpressInteractive, LLC, a designer of mobile and PC apps for the graphic design, art, music and publishing markets. Founded by graphic designer John Bonadies and developer Jeff Adams in 2011, mpressInteractive develops creative applications for its own products and provides custom application development for other companies.

LetterMpress is mpressInteractive's first mobile app. The concept was chosen to support the renaissance of letterpress printing, an all but lost art now rapidly gaining interest among innovative designers, artists and printers. The company also offers letterpress printing services on vintage presses, printing classes and workshops at its Living Letter Press studio in Champaign, Illinois.