On photoshop I edit an image to be black and white. I take that image or pattern and burn it onto thick paper with a laser cutter. They key is to have the laser moving fast enough and the intensity of the laser low enough to not actually cut or burn through the paper. When the image is burned I put it through a vandercook press where I have my lead type set. Where there are burns the paper is thinner and ends up printing uneven and creates controlled textured and layers.

letter press and laser burning

Emily L Hunt