Letterpress
invitations are a thing of beauty. While wedding invitations have evolved
considerably over the years and people are coming up with new, innovative ways
to announce the most important day of their life, the popularity and demand for
old school letterpress invites still remain the same, which is quite
incredible. In fact, in many countries, including our very own Australia, the
popularity of letterpress
printing rivals that of digital printing, particularly when it comes to
invitations for special occasions.
What
is Letterpress Printing?
Letterpress is, quite
simply put, the oldest method of printing. It is also the most elaborate,
laborious printing method. In this method, a raised surface, which has letters
and images on it, is coated with ink and pressed against a sheet of paper. In
the earlier days, wooden and metal blocks were used for typesetting. These days,
photopolymer plates are used extensively in letterpress printing as they are
easier to maintain and replace than metal and wooden blocks.
What
Makes Letterpress the Right Choice for Invitations?
·
First
and foremost, they are incredibly beautiful. Letterpress printing creates
crisp, bold patterns that look stunning on a sheet of paper. The texture and
definition of the text and images are richer in letterpress than in other types
of printing.
·
Digital
printing can only be done with thin sheets of paper. Letterpress, on the other
hand, is ideal for any kind of paper, irrespective of its thickness. It even
works with treeless cotton paper, which is much heavier than other types of
paper. The thickness of the paper allows for deep impressions, which make your
wedding invitations look unique and special.
·
Letterpress
is a unique, one-of-its-kind craft. A lot of creativity and workmanship goes
into it. Digital printing, in contrast, requires very little effort and you can
print a bunch of invitations in no time. Letterpress is a laborious process
which involves a lot of time and effort and it is a point of pride with many
printing presses that they have mastered this style of printing.
·
Lastly,
letterpress is a traditional and classic style of printing. Even in the
ultramodern, digital world that we live in, the love for traditional things has
not completely gone away in many spheres of life. So, people cherish
letterpress printing and want to preserve it for the future. It is one of the
main reasons why letterpress is back in vogue today, not just in Australia, but
in many other parts of the world as well.
Factors
to Consider While Ordering Letterpress Invitations
The first thing you
need to know about letterpress printing is that it takes time – much longer than
digital printing. So, you need to plan accordingly and place your order well in
advance.
Get in touch with the
designer of the printing press and convey your ideas clearly. Take a look at
the designs he comes up with and approve the one that you like the most. Make
sure you get all the details right, as letterpress printing is time-intensive
and last-minute changes can take more time than you expect.
Letterpress requires a
different dye for each color. Dyes for letterpress can be quite pricey, so it is
a good idea to keep the number of colors on your invitation to a minimum. You
will be surprised to see just how brilliant the printing looks even with two or
three colors. At the same time, if you can afford to, splurge a bit and go for
rich, colorful invitations that people would love to keep as mementos for a
long time.
Customized letterpress invitations
generally cost more than readymade ones. The cost depends on a number of
factors like the number of dyes used, the quality and thickness of the paper
used, the size and number of invites to be printed, and the variety of finishes
– to name a few. So, you need to tell the printer exactly what you need in
terms of size, color, and design to get an accurate quote.
