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Letterpress became outdated with the advent of the concept of digital publishing.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

Letterpress Invitations – The Perfect Choice for Special Occasions

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.

If you cannot afford custom invitations and want to choose from the catalogue itself, you still have an amazing range of choices. There are many letterpress printers in Australia, each with their own catalogue of invitations in a variety of different sizes, designs, patterns, and colors. You can take a look at all of them and easily choose one that meets your expectations and suits your budget perfectly.