I made a 5 line proofing version from the Aldine Expanded patterns. The form includes all of the characters in the typeface as it will be offered by Virgin Wood Type.
I totally enjoy the first inking of any of the wood type that I make. That is the time that I can really see the typeface that I have spent hours making. Since most of the type that I make is sent to customers as uninked “virgin” type, it is gratifying to see.
Sometimes it even prints well on the first pass. It really depends on the packing of the press and how good or bad the tympan sheet is. Often I have to makeready a couple of weak (short) characters. I usually use 1 piece of masking tape on the bottom of the weak characters to bring up the height.