Printing Techniques 101
June 27 2023
So, you’ve started hunting for event stationery, whether for a wedding, engagement, or another event. And you’ve now come across all these different printing techniques, and while you thought you knew what you wanted, you’re now confused. Sound about right?
There are so many print methods to choose from, and all have a unique look and feel as well as different price points. Do you know the difference between Letterpress printing and Embossing? Because a few years ago, I sure didn’t! To save you a bit of time, we’ve outlined the differences between some of the more common print methods for invitations. Here at Embellished, we specialise in Digital, Letterpress, and Hot Foil printing, but we’re happy to provide quotes for Blind Letterpress, Embossing or a combination of print methods too!
DIGITAL PRINTING
What is it?
Digital printing is also known as ‘flat’ printing, and produces a print that is, well, flat! What this means is that there’s no texture once it’s printed, and the surface feels smooth to the touch. This is the most common type of print method due to its affordability.
Pros
Aside from being cost-effective, printing digitally also gives you a lot of flexibility. There’s no limit to the number of colours that can be printed, which means it’s perfect for printing intricate designs! Because it’s not as labour intensive as some of the other print methods, it also doesn’t take very long to print stationery digitally which makes it the perfect print method to choose if you’re in a rush.
Cons
While digital printing is more affordable, the main ‘drawback’ is the lack of texture which you’d get with Letterpress or Foil printing.
Printing Turnaround
It generally takes up to 2 weeks to have your stationery printed digitally.
{'Marie' Collection - Invitation in Digital Printing}
LETTERPRESS AND ‘BLIND’ LETTERPRESS PRINTING
What is it?
Letterpress is a form of relief printing, where a plate is created with your text and/or image, and then pressed into the paper by a letterpress machine. The result is a beautiful indentation on the paper that just screams luxury. You may also have heard of ‘blind’ letterpress printing (also known as debossing) – this is where the same impression is made in the paper but without any ink. So the effect is the same, but there won’t be any colour. Blind letterpress looks absolutely stunning for more subtle designs. Something to keep in mind is you may not want to use blind letterpress for important text, as the lack of colour can make text more difficult to read.
Pros
Aside from the texture and depth that you’ll achieve with letterpress printing, there is also a certain element of elegance that’s associated with letterpress that really can’t be matched. It’s also the oldest of the traditional printing techniques and as such, has a rich history.
Cons
Letterpress printing is labour intensive: unique plates need to made for every colour that’s in your design, and the paper is hand fed into the printing machine. It’s truly a skill! As such, it’s also more expensive. Additionally, a new plate needs to be used for every colour in your design, so the cost can really add up if you have more than two colours.
Printing Turnaround
Letterpress stationery can take 2 to 4 weeks to be printed, so please keep this in mind when you’re placing your order!
{'Hannah' Collection - Invitation in Letterpress Printing}
HOT FOIL PRINTING
What is it?
Hot foil printing is a process where metallic foil is applied to the surface of the paper using heat and pressure. Similar to the letterpress printing process, each design requires a unique metal plate. What you’re left with is a shiny, shimmery (and in our opinion, gorgeous) impression on the paper. While gold foil is the most commonly used colour for wedding invitations, you can choose from a variety of colours!
Pros
If you’re going for a glamorous vibe, hot foil is the way to go! Also considered to be a luxurious printing method, hot foil stationery will definitely leave an impression (pun intended).
Cons
Hot foil printing is also labour intensive, so you can expect a higher price tag, and longer turnaround times for printing.
Printing Turnaround
Hot foil stationery can take 2 to 4 weeks to be printed, so please keep this in mind when you’re placing your order!
{'Elizabeth' Collection - Invitation in Gold Foil Printing}
EMBOSSING
Embossing is similar to letterpress in that custom plates are used to transfer text and/or designs to paper. However, in the case of embossing, the result is a colourless, raised area. While embossing isn’t listed as a print option on our website as it’s not quite as common as the other three print techniques listed above, if you’re interested in seeing a quote for embossing please drop us a note and we’d be happy to help!
ORDERING WITH EMBELLISHED
Have a browse through our collections and please drop us a line here if you have any questions – we would love to help!
