Tuesday 11 April 2017

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Letterpress became outdated with the advent of the concept of digital publishing.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. 

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