Gnomius Imprimatur 2000

The Gnomius Imprimatur 2000 represents the pinnacle of gnomish engineering and craftsmanship, meticulously designed and manufactured by the talented minds at Gnome Workshop. This state-of-the-art printing press is a remarkable upgrade from its predecessor, packed with innovative features that make it the ultimate tool for producing high-quality, collectible cards.

Printing Press

Unlike previous models, the Gnomius Imprimatur 2000 boasts an integrated cutting mechanism, which has revolutionised the printing process, especially for Margo's collectible cards. Equipped with an array of adjustable precision cutting blades, the press can automatically cut sheets to exact specifications, from traditional rectangular shapes to more intricate designs. This streamlined functionality significantly reduces the need for manual labour, enabling high-volume production with unparalleled consistency.

Beyond its impressive printing and cutting capabilities, the Gnomius Imprimatur 2000 features a sophisticated quality monitoring system. This system continuously inspects each card during the printing and cutting process, scanning for any potential errors, misalignments, or imperfections. If an issue is detected, the system immediately makes real-time adjustments, maintaining the highest standard of accuracy and precision without halting production. The result is a flawless finish on every card, each one a miniature work of art.

Additionally, the press includes an “Artisan Mode” for limited-edition runs. In this mode, the machine slows down to allow for enhanced colour saturation and intricate details, making each print exceptionally vibrant and lifelike. Margo has even experimented with printing Geertruud-inspired collectible cards, each with intricate details that highlight various scenes from her friend’s storied adventures.

"Do you hear that? Tentacle Press is making books again. That noise, keeping us awake all night. And then tomorrow, the book is keeping us awake."

Infusion Sets

For creating a working infusion set, the following items are required:

Fixation Unit

The fixation unit is a thin board (for maps) or a book (for books) used as a carrier for blueprints.

Blueprint

Blueprints are thin sheets of paper that get glued onto/into a fixation unit.

Ink

This special magical ink is used to write or paint the content onto a blueprint.

Fountain Pen

Used to write with ink onto a blueprint. Margo made a special magical version that allows her to dictate her texts.

Mechanics & Inner Workings

The inked blueprints are carefully adhered to the fixation unit, which is designed to match the shape of the final product - whether that be a flat board for a map or an empty book for a publication. Once the blueprints are securely in place, the fixation unit is inserted into the printing press, where its contents are transferred to an empty map or book situated in a second slot of the Apparatus Gnomicus.
This entire process is impressively efficient, taking roughly nine minutes to produce a map and about twenty-four minutes for a book. However, the most time-consuming aspect of the operation is the manual task of pulling levers and pushing buttons to initiate the printing sequence. When two skilled gnomes work together as a team, they can dramatically reduce this downtime to just a minute. This teamwork enables them to print up to five maps per hour - about ten minutes per map, fitting nicely within a 50-minute work period, followed by a mandatory ten-minute snack break as stipulated by the Labour Union of Working Gnomes. They can also produce two books per hour, optimising productivity while adhering to labour regulations.
While the Apparatus Gnomicus excels at the printing process, preparation of the empty maps or books must still be done by hand. This involves carefully aligning each sheet and ensuring the quality of materials, which adds a bit of traditional craftsmanship to the otherwise mechanised process.
To keep the Apparatus Gnomicus running smoothly, it requires a minor maintenance cycle every eight hours. This routine upkeep includes refuelling ink, greasing moving parts, and cleaning away any accumulated dirt and debris. Once a month, a more extensive maintenance cycle is necessary, which involves replacing worn-out parts and conducting a thorough inspection to ensure everything is functioning optimally.

Printing Press Construction Plans

Gnomius Imprimatur 2000 by Tillerz using MidJourney

Model/Sub Type

GIMP Model 2000 C

Item type

Magical

Creation Date

2864

Current Location

Perelline

Current Holder

Margo Weedlebeam

Manufacturer

Gnome Workshop

Rarity

unique

Weight

800 kg

Base Price

confidential

Gnomius Imprimatur 2000 Operator's Manual

1. don your security cap and glasses.
2. make sure switch sw-1 is set to position "not on".
3. open shaft sh-3.
4. place prepared fixation unit into shaft sh-3b.
5. close shaft sh-3.
6. open shaft sh-7.
7. place empty product carrier into shaft sh-7.
8. close shaft sh-7.
9. turn switch sw-1 to position "power up".
10. open maintenance door md-2 and make sure no more gnomes are sleeping in there.
11. push lever l-5 up to position "build up" (you might need a lifting jack).
12. carefully watch gauge g-1 and g-3. When both are at exactly 100%, immediately proceed to next step!
13. to jeff: replace this line with a description of the most important step before sending out. do not forget!
14. when the most important step is done, pull lever l-5 (means: jump up and hang on it until it comes down) to position "hold".
15. close maintenance door md-2 you forgot to close earlier.
16. push button b-5.
17. push all the buttons that are blinking until no more blinking is happening.
18. pull lever l-5 all the way down to "release" (you might have to jump onto it).
19. press button b-5, the printing press should start now.
20. if nothing is happening at this point, open maintenance door md-2, crawl in and switch the red and black connectors, then try button b-5 again.
21. when the bell drops out of the hanger, the process is complete.
22. turn switch sw-1 to position "not on".
23. open shaft sh-3.
24. remove fixation unit except you want to print another copy.
25. close shaft sh-3.
26. open shaft sh-7.
27. remove finished product from shaft sh-7.
28. close shaft sh-7.

legal notice: gnome workshop is not responsible
for any damage done by owning or using this device.