The Advantages of Letterpress Wedding Invitations
Paperia | December 2013
What is letterpress?
The art of letterpress printing involves applying ink to a raised surface and then pressing it into paper. The end result is a beautiful, luxurious, and crisp imprinted image that you can “feel.”
Letterpress was the most common form of printing from the 15th to 19th century, but was then replaced by offset lithography, a much faster process that involves photographically transferring a flat image to paper. Today, letterpress printing thrives only in niche markets – such as formal event invitations, upscale stationery, or fine books.
Distinct advantages
Letterpress printing provides high-quality and one-of-a-kind craftsmanship. Because text and images are actually impressed into paper, letterpress printing creates crisp, clean lines and bold patterns that have greater visual definition than most other printing techniques. And, the rich texture created by the impression adds a level of intimacy and uniqueness to each piece. Another benefit of letterpress printing is that it works well with treeless (cotton) papers and extra heavy card stock, which some printing techniques cannot do.
Sounds wonderful – why isn’t everything printed via letterpress?
Cost, turnaround time, and flexibility are just a few reasons letterpress is not the standard printing method. The cost of maintaining the press and manufacturing plates for each printed piece is high, making it a more expensive endeavor for print shops and consumers alike. Letterpress printing is also time consuming, since most equipment can print only one color at a time. Finally, letterpress printing is a complex procedure using hairline thin lines, detailed photographs, and / or very small type. But, if you choose letterpress printing, the end result is extraordinary perfection.
The Bottom Line
When your special occasion demands something extraordinary, you have lots of time, and a budget with some wiggle-room, consider letterpress stationery.
As always, to identify the perfect wedding invitation suite, be sure to visit our store in Chestnut Hill, PA or Suburban Square in Ardmore, PA or e-mail us at info@thePaperia.com.
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