The experimenting began with an opportunity provided by Cathy Gleason to try out an Open Press Mini Press as part of a papermaking session led by paper artist Allison Roscoe at the Manoa Heritage Center, Honolulu, HI.

The practical plate size is 100mm (4in) x 60mm (2 /38in) or smaller and 150mm (6in) x 70mm (2 3/8) largest paper size.

For this test: 

Printing plate is on 2in x 4"in thin (1mm) plexiglass with both drypoint and masking tape.

Speedball Acrylic Block Printing Ink was used. 

Plate was placed directly on press bed and newsprint served as a press blanket.

Hand made and hand dyed paper was chiné collection applied with methyl cellulose powder.

A light dusting of gold mica powder was randomly tapped from a fine paint brush on the surface before printing.

Assessment: 

The working space was breezy and it was difficult to manage the drying time of the ink. A light mist of water was sprayed on just prior to printing. May have been overcompensation! Need to do another printing in a less breezy space.

Press is fun and easy to use but resulting prints are small.