Turning digital vectors into physical objects is one of the most rewarding parts of type design. We’ve partnered with Type High Design to bring our Eckhart Color Black into the physical world—it is now available as CNC-machined wood type for letterpress.

If you are a letterpress enthusiast, a printmaker, or simply a lover of handmade fonts, this collaboration bridges the gap between modern digital typography and the centuries-old tradition of relief printing.

From Layered Digital System to Physical Wood Type

When we first designed the Eckhart Type System, the goal was to create a versatile, elegant didone tailored for high-end editorial and poster design. But the Eckhart Color sub-family was where we allowed the form to push into truly expressive territory.

Rooted in the visual rhythm of Polish folk art, Eckhart Color Black was originally engineered as part of a complex layered font and color font system. It provides a lively, patterned alternative to standard typographic cuts, bringing cultural nuance and a handcrafted feeling to any layout.

Translating these intricate, folk inspired fonts into physical blocks seemed like a nearly impossible challenge. The ornamental details are incredibly fine, demanding a level of precision that traditional wood carving would struggle to reproduce at scale.

The Craftsmanship of Type High Design

Enter Type High Design, a specialist workshop based in Wales, UK, dedicated to providing new, uncompromising wood type for the modern letterpress community.

They took the complex vectors of Eckhart Color Black and, utilizing precise CNC machining, flawlessly translated the intricate ornamentation into end-grain beech hardwood. The level of detail they achieved is staggering—every decorative pattern within the letters holds up beautifully, pass after pass, under the immense pressure of the press.

Each block is meticulously sanded to the standard 0.918” type height (custom heights like the German/Didot standard are also available upon request) and finished with shellac. This traditional sealing method provides a glass-smooth surface, ensuring the ink wipes off cleanly and your prints remain crisp for years.

The Enduring Appeal of Letterpress and DIY Typography

We are currently witnessing a beautiful resurgence in analog design. In an era dominated by screens, the letterpress movement and the DIY printmaking community are thriving. Designers are craving the tactile feedback of ink on paper, the slight embossment of a heavy press, and the unique, imperfect charm of physical typography.

Using a physical wood type block of an ornamental display font like Eckhart allows printmakers to create striking, large-scale typography for posters, packaging, and fine art prints. It is a reminder that typography is not just a software tool—it is a physical craft.

Eckhart for Print and Digital

Eckhart is available for both physical letterpress and digital typesetting.

• Physical Wood Type: You can order Eckhart Color Black directly from Type High Design’s Shop. They offer complete 2A (39 characters) and 3A (60 characters) schemes, manufactured to order.
• Digital Typeface: The complete digital family—including all 76 styles, optical sizes, and the layered font system—is available here at ROHH Type Foundry.

Have you used Eckhart in your recent projects, either on screen or on the press? Tag us on Instagram or write to us—we would love to see how you bring these letters to life.