LETTERPRESS PRINTING
Best described as old world printing you can feel, this classic printing technique brings sophisticated elegance to your event. Whether you’re planning a black tie affair, or simply want to set a tone that will impress your guests, letterpress printing will not disappoint!
Letterpress printing uses traditional printing presses along with metal dies to press ink into cotton paper, leaving a subtle impression you can feel. This specialty print process is more labor intensive than digital printing, and requires a separate die and press run for each color in the design, therefore best suited for designs that have a limited color palette and simple design aesthetic.
THE PACKAGES
We’ve put together 3 letterpress invitation packages to help get you started. Packages include customization of the design of your choice from our Signature Collection, or simple custom design. Pricing for individual components and add-ons are listed at the bottom of this page if you wish to create a custom package. Please contact us to discuss custom packages or specialty items.
1 INVITATION CARD
1-color letterpress imprint + full color digital/flat print* (optional)
110# paper in your choice of Bright White or Soft White
1 REPLY CARD + ENVELOPE
1-color letterpress imprint + full color digital/flat print* (optional)
110# paper in your choice of Bright White or Soft White
Reply envelope in your choice of color with address printed in dark ink
1 MAILING ENVELOPE
Your choice of colors suitable for dark ink printing
Recipient and return addresses digitally printed in dark ink
Customize this set with any of the Add-On options listed below
Includes everything in the Basic set, plus the following:
1 DETAILS CARD
1-color letterpress imprint + full color digital/flat print* (optional)
110# paper in your choice of Bright White or Soft White
1 BELLY BAND
Choice of solid color, glitter, or digitally printed text-weight paper bands
to hold you set together – secured with a clear seal on the back side
Customize this set with any of the Add-On options listed below
Includes everything in the Classic set, plus the following:
INVITATION CARD: PAPER UPGRADE
220# (2-ply) Ultra-thick paper in your choice of Bright White or Soft White
INVITATION CARD: ADD 1 FOIL OR INK COLOR
Add 1 metallic foil imprint color or 1 additional letterpress imprint color,
for a total of 2 colors on your invitation card
MAILING ENVELOPE LINERS
Envelope liner in your choice of solid color, glitter, or digitally printed
UPGRADE belly bands to your choice of Satin Ribbon or Vellum Wrap,
with custom wax seals in your choice of design and color
Customize this set with any of the Add-On options listed below
A LA CARTE PRICING
Base pricing in the grid below includes 1-color letterpress printing on 110# cotton stock in your choice of Bright White or Soft White.
Please inquire for other sizes or specifications.
ADD ONs & UPGRADES
LETTERPRESS INK COLORS
Letterpress printing can be combined with full-color digital printing on standard 110# cardstock, or add metallic foil.
LETTERPRESS FAQ
Currently, letterpress orders are only available by special order. When you’re ready to start the conversation, please
contact us for a price quote and to discuss your ideas.
Letterpress printing takes 3 weeks from date of proof approval, but be sure to allow adequate time for design proofing. We recommend getting started on your order at least 6 weeks prior to when you expect to have your order in hand. Rush orders are available – please inquire.
Letterpress printing can be ordered in any increment over the minimum of 50. Reprint orders must also meet the minimum of 50, so be sure to order enough with your initial order. We recommend adding at least 10-15 extras, possibly more if you think your guest list may grow. Be sure to count households, not individuals.
Letterpress printing is best suited for designs with finer details and line work rather than large areas of ink coverage. Ink coverage is uneven with larger areas of ink, often letting the texture of the paper show through or cause a spotted look. Letterpress printing requires a separate press run for each ink color applied (include blind debossing, or creating and impression without applying an ink color), so we recommend limiting colors to 1 or 2 with this print method. If you’d like design that incorporates more colors, consider adding digital/flat printing in combination with letterpress text or line work.
Yes! Metallic foil stamping can be added with letterpress printing. Adding foil counts as a 2nd color and adds $1.00 per card.
Yes! Although the simplicity and sophistication of a letterpress card is substantial enough to stand alone, if you wish to mount your letterpress invitation inside of a pocket folder or laser cut enclosure, we can create custom sizes to fit accordingly. When mounting your letterpress card, we recommend the standard 110# paper weight, which is perfect for layering. Please let us know when ordering if you plan to add any additional layering pieces or folders.
If you love the look and feel of letterpress but the cost is out of your budget, consider choosing letterpress for your main invitation card only. All accompanying cards can be done in digital/flat printing to keep costs down and let that invitation really pop! For comparison, upgrading 1 card in your set to letterpress printing only adds $1.50.
Letterpress printing requires 100% cotton paper, which is softer and thicker than regular cardstock to allow it to hold that tactile impression that letterpress is known for. This paper comes in 2 shades: Bright White and Soft White. Each color comes in 2 thicknesses: 110# (single thickness) or 220# which is an ultra-thick 2-ply card with substantial rigidity.
Absolutely! Please
contact us to request letterpress samples. We do not carry letterpress samples in all of our designs, but we can send you an assortment to get an idea of the look and feel.
Digital/flat printing allows for full-color graphics to accompany the single-color tactile impression made by letterpress printing. This combination of print methods allows for letterpress printing to be done with a wider range of designs that would typically require many press runs (and higher cost) to achieve a multi-color look. For example, if you wanted to order a design with watercolor florals in letterpress, the floral graphic would be digitally/flat printed and the text or any other single-color elements could be letterpressed. Digital printing is not available on 220# (2-ply) paper upgrade.
Yes and no. Because letterpress requires a die, it would be very expensive to create a die for each recipient addresses to be letterpressed on a single envelope. However, it is more cost effective to do letterpress for the return address, which will be the same on all envelopes. With a letterpress return address, the recipient address on the front can either be printed digitally, or left blank for hand-lettered calligraphy.