For printing in ink on book covers a blocking press, an inking roller, a slab (stone or metal), a pallet knife, and a sheet of rubber about in. thick called the inking pad will be necessary. After the block has been set up, the book covers are blocked blind (a plain impression of a block on a cover is termed blind), using a warm press. The press is then allowed to cool, and the preparations for inking are proceeded with. The slab, roller, etc., are placed conveniently on the bench. Then with the pallet knife take a small portion of ink from the tin and daub it on the slab in two or more places. Take the roller and carefully roll over the ink daubs so as to spread a perfectly even coating of ink on the slab and roller. With the roller well ink the pad, rolling backwards and forwards several times, and taking up more ink if necessary. Then push the pad in on the bed of the press and bring the block down on it gently several times, meanwhile shifting the position of the pad, the object being to ink the block thoroughly, The pad is taken out and a book cover is laid in and impressed by pulling the levers in the usual manner. When the cover is taken out it must be placed on end or hung up on a line to dry. For every impression the pad must be inked before attempting to ink the block, unless this is very small. The pad may be dispensed with if the blocking plate is taken out each time and turned upwards on the bench; the roller can then be used direct. Some presses have an arrangement specially for this purpose called a hinged plate; also there are self-inking presses for dealing with large quantities.
Figs. 120 to 123 show some designs for tooled and blocked book covers. Fig. 120 is a corner and border design to be executed by hand-tooling on morocco; the bands should be made to look heavy. Fig. 121 is a quarter design for the same purpose; in the corner circles there are small ornaments, whilst alternate circles are filled as illustrated; or, instead, all the circles may be filled. Fig. 122 depends for effect entirely on the proper execution of the corners, which are connected by plain lines. Fig. 123 shows a design, dating from 1659, for use on a morocco-bound Bible; perhaps the age of the design is the only feature that recommends it.

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