A Beginner’s Guide to Letterpress in Australia

If you are thinking of letterpress Australia is one of the first names that should pop into your head. The country has played a key role in reviving the art of letterpress printing and a large number of letterpress printers can be found here. So, if you are in need of letterpress invitations or stationery, there are tons of choices available for you here. 

The Art of Letterpress Printing

Quite simply put, letterpress is the oldest method of printing. At one point of time, it was also the only and most popular method of printing – employed by men of letters to print volumes and volumes of their works. In this method, a raised surface, which contains the text and images to be printed, is coated with ink and then pressed forcefully against a sheet of paper. The text to be printed was usually arranged letter by letter in a meticulous manner before coating the surface with ink. Wooden or metal blocks were typically used for the printing purpose. 

Letterpress became outdated with the advent of the concept of digital publishing. Many printers switched to digital publishing almost immediately, as it was considered easier, faster, and far less cumbersome than compared to letterpress printing. 

In the recent past, however, letterpress has slowly started to regain its prominence due to a number of reasons. The allure of handset type has captured the imagination of many people these days. With letterpress, the quality of printing is also quite exceptional. You can literally feel the letters on the paper due to the deep impressions created during the printing process. The text and images look bolder and richer than compared to normal invitations and cards, which is quite beautiful to look at. 

More importantly, people these days need something special with respect to their invitations and cards to make a special occasion all the more special and memorable. Digital printing, no matter how sophisticated, is definitely not one of a kind and there is nothing special about it these days. Whereas letterpress has a certain sense of mystique and allure – akin to an ancient art form resurrected in the present age – and has a distinct appeal to it, which is the reason why many people today opt for letterpress invitations and cards. 

Modern Day Letterpress Printing

The process of letterpress Australia and elsewhere, has changed considerably when compared to the past. Wooden and metal blocks are no longer used as they are heavy and difficult to use, maintain, repair, and replace. Instead, photopolymer plates are used, which are easy to maintain and even easier to replace. The method of printing, however, more or less remains the same. The surface that contains the text and images is coated with a layer of ink and pressed up against a sheet of paper or card. 

One of the biggest advantages of letterpress printing is that any type of paper can be used. You can opt for the thickest of papers in order to create the deepest and boldest of impressions, which look spectacular on wedding invitations and birthday cards. This is one area where digital printing is lacking and is also the reason why many people opt for letterpress printed cards for special occasions. 

Tips for Choosing Letterpress Invitations and Cards

Letterpress Australia gives you a ton of options. You can find letterpress printers in pretty much every major city in the country. You can visit a few of them, ask for a quote, and make a decision according to your needs and budget. 

The most important thing you need to remember in terms of letterpress invitations and cards is that they take time to print. So, place your order well in advance. If you do not have the time, you can choose a ready made invitation from the catalogue of the printer. 

Letterpress printers usually have a graphic designer, who comes up with the draft of the invitation. You have to tell him in great detail as to what kind of invitation or card you need, what kind of fonts and designs you like, and so on. Once you give your inputs, he works on the invitation and comes up with a sample. You can take a good look at it and tell him if there are any modifications to be made, upon making which the invitations will be printed in bulk. 

An Introductory Guide to Foil Printing Invitations in Melbourne

Foil printing invitations are the in-thing today. More and more people are opting for foil printed cards for special occasions like weddings, anniversaries, and birthdays, as they believe that these beautifully printed invitations embody the festive spirit of the occasion and make it more special. What makes these cards so special? Let us take a look. 

What Is Foil Printing and How Does It Work?

In order to understand what makes foil printing invitations so special and different from ordinary invitations, you need to know the process behind printing them. 

For foil printing, you need three things – an engraved metal plate which contains the text and images to be printed, a thin strip of foil, and a sheet of paper or card. The strip of foil is threaded into the printing machine. The card is placed underneath the foil. Once everything is in position, the metal plate is heated. The hot metal plate then presses the foil against the card with tremendous pressure. Due to the enormous pressure, the text and images on the plate get indented on the surface of the paper. Due to the heat, the foil gets fused to the surface of the paper and the colour from the foil bleeds on the indented surface. 

Generally, gold and silver foils are used in foil printing as they look a lot shinier and glossier than any other colour. However, copper, rose, and other bright colours are also used extensively these days to give the invitations a vibrant, colourful look. A thick sheet of paper or card is used, as lighter, thinner materials cannot withstand the amount of pressure applied during the printing process. 

Some printers also use a slightly different method of foil printing. In this method, the sheet of paper or card is first embossed with the text and images. The embossed section is then foiled using the same process as above. 

Why Use Foil Printing Invitations?

• Foil printing does not use ink at all. The foil is directly fused on to the surface of the paper. It is great for printing on dark or coloured paper. With traditional printing, the colored paper could react with the ink and change its colour slightly. As a result, the look and feel of the invitation could be different from what you had initially imaged. With foil, there is no such risk and the colour of the foil can be exactly reproduced on the paper.

• Foil printed invitations are gorgeous. The foil, which is infused to the surface of the invitation, looks glossy and shiny and makes the invitations look classy and luxurious. The best part is that unlike ink, the shine and gloss of the foil does not fade away quickly. 

• Foil printing is one of the oldest methods of printing. By opting for foil printed invitations, you are actually playing a small, but important role in the revival of the age-old printing method. It is always a good thing to do. 

Foil Printers in Melbourne

When it comes to foil printing Melbourne offers you a wide range of options. There are a number of printing presses that specialise in foil stamping and printing and can print anything from wedding invitations to business cards, brochures, and stationery items. 

Printers usually have a graphic designer, with whom you can discuss your ideas and tell him exactly what kind of invitation you are looking for. If you already have a clear idea of what you need, you can tell him and ask him to come up with a draft. If not, you can ask him for suggestions, take a look at the catalogue they have, and choose something you like. 

Once the discussion is over, the designer works on your ideas and comes up with a rough draft, which is basically a replica of the invitation that you want printed. You can take a look at it and approve it. If there are any changes to be made, you can notify him of the same. Once you give the final approval, the invitations get printed. 

One thing you need to remember is that foil printing invitations are different from regular, digitally printed invitations in the sense that a huge amount of time and effort goes into them. So, you need to tell the printers exactly what you need – down to the last detail – so that they can get everything right in the first attempt.