“It is everything I could have hoped for! I have never felt more excited about the work that I have since acquiring your press.”
– George D. Davidson,
Artist/ Printmaker
Take a closer look.
Press Drive System
Consistently Smooth.
Conrad Press Lithography Drive
The Conrad tabletop litho press is built to deliver smooth, consistent printing and professional-quality image transfer—and the drive system plays a big part in that.
The standard setup uses a heavy-duty chain drive paired with a large open spoked wheel, giving you the leverage needed to apply steady, controlled pressure across the entire image area. This is especially important in lithography, where even pressure is key to achieving clean, consistent transfers.
The open wheel design lets you pull down on the spokes through the entire rotation, creating a natural, fluid motion. This makes it easier to maintain a steady pace and consistent pressure—helping ensure reliable results from print to print.
Built with durability in mind, the system is strong, simple, and dependable, designed to handle repeated use without losing performance. It also gives you clear access to the press bed, making setup and adjustments easier during longer runs.
The result is a drive system that feels smooth, controlled, and precise—giving you the confidence to produce high-quality lithographic prints every time.
Pressure System
Spring Balanced. Perfect Feel.
The Conrad tabletop litho press is designed to deliver consistent printing and professional-quality image transfer, and it all comes down to how the pressure is applied.
Pressure Comes From Underneath
Instead of pushing down from above, this press uses a cam-driven system that lifts the bed from underneath—a method inspired by traditional lithography presses. As the press is engaged, heavy-duty cams raise the bed into the scraper bar, creating firm, even pressure across the entire image area.
This bottom-up design keeps everything rigid and aligned, which is critical in lithography. The result is clean, consistent image transfer with no uneven spots or pressure variation.
Built for Strength and Accuracy
The cam system works with custom-built bearings designed specifically for printmaking, allowing everything to move smoothly while handling high loads. These components are built to maintain alignment under pressure, giving you reliable performance even with frequent use.
Because the system is engineered for durability, it holds up over time—delivering the same level of precision print after print.
Smooth, Simple Operation
A large closing lever activates the system, raising the bed into printing position with ease. It provides excellent leverage, so you can apply strong, consistent pressure without strain.
This makes setup quick and adjustments simple, helping you stay focused on printing instead of fighting the machine.
Press Bed Plates
Start Flat. Print Better.
Composite Bed
Durability meets functionality.
A flat, light-weight, & durable material ideal for printing.
Aluminum Bed
Light weight for heavy pressure.
Get the advantages of a metal bed while reducing the weight.
Press Frame
Engineered. Robust.
The Conrad tabletop litho press gives you a generous printing area while still being practical to install and move—without sacrificing performance. It’s designed to deliver consistent, professional-quality image transfer across the full bed, with the strength and rigidity needed for real lithographic work.
Unlike many presses with similar capacity, which can be difficult to move or install, this press is built with flexibility in mind. It can be disassembled into manageable sections, making it much easier to bring into studios, classrooms, and work spaces without major modifications.
Once set up, you get a press that feels solid and dependable. The heavy-duty construction and precision alignment ensure even pressure across the entire image area, giving you clean, consistent results every time.
It’s the best of both worlds—large-format capability with portability in mind.
Pressure Locking Nut
Secure Your Pressure.
The Conrad tabletop litho press features a pressure locking nut that secures your pressure setting once you have your press adjusted.
After dialing in the perfect pressure, simply tighten the locking nuts to prevent unwanted movement during printing. This helps maintain consistent pressure throughout an edition and makes it easy to return to proven settings later.
It’s a simple feature that improves accuracy, consistency, and confidence every time you print.
Conrad Tabletop Litho for the Classroom
Conrad. A Real Class Act.
The Conrad tabletop litho press has an option quick-release locking nut to quickly secure and lock in your pressure settings without the need of a wrench of other tools.
Who is the Conrad Tabletop Litho for?
Educators and Students
The Conrad tabletop litho press is an excellent choice for classrooms where lithography is being taught. It’s easy to operate, consistent in performance, and built to handle regular use by students. Instructors can rely on it to demonstrate proper technique, while students benefit from a press that delivers clean, reliable image transfer every time.
Art Institutions, Co-Ops, & Print Shops
In shared studio environments, this press offers a strong balance of capacity, durability, and efficiency. It’s compact enough to fit into busy workspaces, yet built to handle frequent use. Whether used as a primary litho press or as an additional station, it provides dependable, professional results for a wide range of users.
Professional Printmakers
For professionals, the press delivers the consistent pressure and precision needed for high-quality lithographic printing. It is ideal for artists producing editions or working in a dedicated litho workflow, offering smooth operation and repeatable results without the footprint of a full floor model.
Experienced Artists & New Printmakers
The press is approachable enough for beginners, while still offering the performance experienced artists expect. New printmakers will appreciate how straightforward it is to learn, while more advanced users will value the control, durability, and consistent image quality it provides. It’s a press that supports both learning and long-term practice.
Conrad Tabletop Litho Printing Capabilities
Print It All.
Conrad Tabletop Litho. Highly versatile.
The Conrad tabletop litho press handles a wide range of lithographic processes, including both traditional stone lithography and plate lithography. The even, controlled pressure ensures that ink is transferred smoothly and accurately, capturing fine details, subtle tones, and rich textures with precision.
The Conrad Tabletop Litho Press can easily print the following media:
- Stone lithography
- Plate lithography
Press Warranty
Built to Last a Lifetime.
All Conrad Machine Co. Presses come with the printmaking industry’s best 25-Year Warranty. At Conrad Machine Co., we believe in our products and workmanship, so much so, that we will repair or replace any defects in materials or workmanship for the first 25 years of the life of your printmaking press.
Press Specs.
Press Accessories
Friends for Your Tabletop Litho.
With the Conrad tabletop litho press, performance doesn’t stop at the press itself. Conrad designs a full range of accessories and studio tools made specifically to work with the press, helping you get the most out of every print.
Lithography is a process where consistency matters, and having the right tools makes a big difference. Items like high-quality scraper bars, tympan, inking rollers, brayers, and proper inks and papers all play a role in achieving clean, even image transfer. When your tools are designed to match the press, everything works more smoothly and predictably.
Instead of trying to piece together a setup from different sources, Conrad accessories are built as a complete system. That means better fit, better performance, and fewer variables to worry about while you’re printing.
Starting with the right essentials helps you avoid common issues and spend more time focusing on your work.
Press Stand
A solid foundation makes a big difference, and the Conrad tabletop litho press stand is built to match the quality of the press. Made from all-steel construction, it provides the strength and rigidity needed to keep the press stable during printing.
This stability is key for lithography, where consistent pressure and smooth movement directly affect image transfer. With a sturdy stand, you eliminate wobble and vibration, helping ensure clean, even results every time.
For added flexibility, the stand is also available with caster wheels. This allows you to move the press when needed—whether you’re rearranging your studio or cleaning—without sacrificing stability during use.
Lithographic Scraper Bars
The scraper bar is one of the most important parts of a lithography press—it’s what actually applies pressure to transfer the image. Conrad scraper bars are designed to deliver smooth, even pressure, helping you get clean, consistent prints every time.
We offer scraper bars in 2″ increments, so you can choose the exact size you need for your work. Whether you’re printing smaller plates or larger stones, having the right width bar helps ensure proper pressure across the image area.
You can purchase individual bars to match specific projects, or go with a full set for maximum flexibility in the studio. Having multiple sizes on hand makes it easy to switch between different formats without compromising print quality.
Tympan
Conrad offers tympan in two high-quality materials: polycarbonate and G-10—each with its own advantages depending on how you like to work.
Polycarbonate tympan is smooth, durable, and slightly more flexible. It glides easily under the scraper bar, making it a great choice for general lithography work and consistent, even pressure across the image.
G-10 tympan is more rigid and extremely tough. It offers a firmer feel under pressure, which some printmakers prefer for more demanding work or when they want a more direct transfer.
Both options are built to handle repeated use while maintaining their shape and performance. Whether you choose polycarbonate or G-10, you’re getting a tympan that supports reliable pressure control and professional-quality image transfer.
Litho Stone Levigators
Having the right printmaking supplies in your studio helps create a smooth, efficient printmaking process, so you can focus on printing, not problem-solving.
Start your complete professional studio setup with Conrad Press supplies:
- Stone Levigators
- Printmaking Plates
- Printmaking Paper
- Printmaking Inks
Get a Tabletop Litho Press
There’s never been
a better time to print.
If you’re ready for consistent prints, clean image transfer, and true professional performance, the Conrad tabletop litho press delivers.
Built for durability, precision, and smooth operation, it gives you everything you need to produce high-quality lithographic work—without the footprint of a full floor model.
Upgrade your setup with a press designed to perform.
Shop Conrad Litho Presses NowFAQ
The Conrad tabletop litho press is designed for either stone lithography or plate lithography printing, giving you flexibility across different litho techniques.
Yes. The press is built with a high-pressure cam system and rigid frame, delivering the consistent, even pressure needed for clean, professional-quality image transfer.
Absolutely. Its durable construction and easy operation make it ideal for educational settings, co-ops, and print shops where multiple users need reliable, consistent performance.
Yes. The press uses a simple lever-based system that allows you to apply and adjust pressure quickly, making setup and printing straightforward and repeatable.
For best results, you’ll want essentials like scraper bars, tympan, levigators, rollers, and quality inks and papers. Conrad offers accessories designed to work seamlessly with the press for consistent, high-quality prints.
