Let’s See That Printed: Dead On Paper’s Extraordinary Tarot Card Prints

As soon as Chris Ovdiyenko’s masterfully intricate and eerily beautifully illustrated Arcana tarot card designs passed through our platemaking department, we were eager to learn more about the project and how it was to be printed. Chris from Dead on Paper filled us in on the gorgeous work (and let us know where we could snag a print or two)!

Photopolymer plates being made for Chris Ovidiyenko of Dead on Paper. This letterpress Arcana tarot card poster series features eerily beautiful detailing.

All prints are 11×14” on Stonehenge Natural White, printed with Van Son Universal Black. I’m printing them on a 1907 Peerless platen press. As you can see from the images, I’m using a Boxcar Base (love it!!), and gauge pins from Boxcar Press also.

Chris Ovidiyenko of Dead on Paper brilliantly prints eerily beautiful detail in his letterpress Arcana tarot card poster series.

In order to get good coverage, I’ve cranked up the pressure a fair amount and hand turn the fly wheel. Although my press is motorized, with the increased pressure the motor and belt assembly isn’t able to make it through a full cycle as it takes a fair amount of effort to get it through to the point where the platen touches paper.

Chris Ovidiyenko of Dead on Paper brilliantly prints eerily beautiful detail in his letterpress Arcana tarot card poster series.

There are 45 different designs with a total run of 3000 prints. At this point, I’ve completed about 1800 of them. The most difficult part, as you would imagine, are the ones with large areas of flat black. Luckily I have the technique down to where there’s only a minimum of “salting” which actually adds some nice character to the prints. 

Chris Ovidiyenko of Dead on Paper brilliantly prints eerily beautiful detail in his letterpress Arcana tarot card poster series.

Just a quick word about the plates – they are amazing! I started out relief printing with laser etched wooden plates, and what a world of difference photopolymer plates have made for me! I outfitted my press from Boxcar and love the high-quality plates, excellent service, and speedy turnaround!

Huge round of thanks out to Chris at Dead on Paper for letting us get a closer look at these brilliant poster designs! And be sure to snag a print here!