The Printing of 'Full House - Aces High'

Full House – Aces High was printed on the morning of July 31, 2002. We arrived at Rush Press in San Diego at 8:30 a.m., and met with some of the office personnel while the lithograph press was prepared for the print run. During our office visit, we learned that one of the office employees’ grandfather-in-law was an ace with the 352nd FG and lives in New York. I was able to show her a picture of him receiving the Silver Star for a mission he flew on January 1, 1945.

Don Reynolds, our pressman, came and got us at 9:30 a.m. and took us out to the shop to review the initial test run. A lithograph print off the press was compared with the proof for sharpness, colors, and for any flaws. Don and I agreed the lithograph print matched the proof, and I signed the proof, giving the go ahead to run the entire edition.

Don prepared the press to receive the prints and the press was started. During the press run, Don would periodically pull out a print to look for any flaws and check the colors. A scanner would analyze the color bar and compare it with the setting in the computer, which in turn controlled the settings on the press. Throughout the print run, Don would periodically pull out a print and compare it with the original print and the proof.

The print run was completed, and the final product was dried, cut to size, inspected, and packaged. Don, who is an aviation fan, is also a master craftsman of the lithograph press, and was pleased to receive his signed and numbered gallery proof. Next stop, veteran signatures!!