Core Certificate Programs

The Bookbinding Core and Cylinder Core Certificate Program allows scheduling flexibility with a comprehensive foundation in bookbinding or letterpress, personal attention from instructors, and access to our well-equipped print studio.

Individual workshop sessions are offered on weekends throughout the term, and classes must be taken in sequence. The Intensive option offers all four classes in one five-day weeklong session. Students who enroll in all four individual classes at the same time are eligible for a $100 series discount. Discounts cannot be applied retroactively.

Upon completion of the four-class series, students will receive a certificate of completion and be eligible to rent studio time to use our equipment, such as sewing frames, board shears, guillotines, presses, and more. Please see the Studio and Equipment Rentals page for more information on dates, times, fees, and more.

Questions about workshops? We’re here to help! Contact us at workshops@sfcb.org or 415-565-0545.

The Bookbinding Core Certificate Program allows flexibility with a comprehensive foundation in bookbinding.

The Bookbinding Core Certificate program takes you through four binding structures in four classes, building new skills in each workshop.

    • This first class introduces students to the craft with the Coptic stitch, one of the earliest structures in binding. In addition to coming away with a finished book made by hand, students will also be introduced to the tools and terms of bookbinding. 

    • Students will create what most of us refer to as a hardbound book. In bookbinding terms it is known as a case binding, where a sewn textblock is glued into a separate structure known as a case.

    • Books were sometimes sewn and then laced into protective soft covers as a temporary binding, before being finely bound for a specific collection or library. These limp bindings became an important structure all their own. 

    • The final class in our Core Bookbinding series (taught in two sessions) combines the skills learned in each previous class to create a beautiful and classic rounded back binding. After completing this workshop, students are well prepared to continue their bookbinding education, whether that means more elaborate structures, learning book repair, or working with leather.

Fall 2025 Bookbinding Core sessions are broken into two sessions. Students who can take all four classes in the same session are encouraged to do so. Classes must be taken 1-4, in order.

To receive a $100 discount, email us with the four workshop dates you’d like to register for; we will enroll you and send a discounted invoice.

Fall 2025 Bookbinding Core workshop dates:

Bookbinding Core 1: Coptic Binding: September 6 and September 14
Bookbinding Core 2: Flat-Back Case Binding: September 20 and September 27
Bookbinding Core 3: Limp Paper Binding: October 12
Bookbinding Core 4: Classic Rounded Back Cloth Binding: October 24 & 25

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Bookbinding Core 1: Coptic Binding: November 2 and 8
Bookbinding Core 2: Flat-Back Case Binding: November 15
Bookbinding Core 3: Limp Paper Binding: November 22
Bookbinding Core 4: Classic Rounded Back Cloth Binding: December 6 and 7

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Bookbinding Core 1-4: Weeklong Intensive: September 22-26 and November 10-14

The Cylinder Core Certificate Program provides a comprehensive foundation in letterpress printing with a hands-on approach.

The Cylinder Core Certificate program consists of four daylong workshops, each with a small project to complete and take home at the end of the day. These classes gradually build letterpress skills and experience on the hand-fed cylinder (proof) press.

    • Learn about the process and practice of setting type, mixing inks and pulling impressions. Students will design and print a small edition of a folded greeting card while learning the basics of press operation.

    • Build your letterpress skills: learn advanced justification, typesetting, and composition. Put it all together to print an 8 x 10" broadside of your own design.

    • Get more acquainted with the press: learn about packing, roller height, and make-ready. Once you've got everything set up you'll run an edition of your own 12 x 15" poster.

    • All those fancy letterpress wedding invitations are printed from digital designs turned into polymer plates. You'll learn how to print with premade plates and walk away with a stationary suite: a coordinated set of cards, letter sheets, and envelopes.

Fall 2025 Cylinder Core workshop dates:
Cylinder Core 1: Experience Letterpress!: October 4
Cylinder Core 2: Power of the Broadside: October 11
Cylinder Core 3: Posterized: October 18
Cylinder Core 4: Digital into Analog: October 25

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Cylinder Core 1-4: 4-Day Intensive: November 4-7