The process of making ready, is one of the most time consuming parts of printing in letterpress. It means printing off several proofs and ensuring all lines of text have the same depth of impression as well as being inked with the same fine layer of ink upon the relief surface of the text or image. The first print off the press is very rarely (I don't think its ever happened to me!) perfect. The above image is a first print. Its smudgy due to too much ink, but you can see