Letterpress Tradition

The centuries-old printing process we call letterpress is often referred to as relief printing. In this process, the ink passes over image plates with raised letters and presses itself onto a continuous roll of paper. It has long been used in newspaper production until offset printing stole the show in some print shops. And although digital printing has also become the standard, the letterpress option is still used in many commercial print projects.

For many print enthusiasts, letterpress carries a striking debossed quality to print. With embossing, the final product shows a raised effect on the paper produced by the press. Debossing shows the opposite effect, a lowered relief or apparent impression onto the paper. No other printing method produces quite the same effect.

Letterpress Uses

Because letterpress prints can accommodate only one color at a time, they are perfect for one-color projects. If more than one color is used, multiple plates must be fashioned to each carry only one ink color. Again, it’s a lot like embossing, only in reverse. As with debossing, thicker, high-quality paper works best for this method. Eco-friendly cotton paper is often a favorite choice.

Here are some of our clients’ favorite choices for letterpress printing:

• Announcements
• Greeting Cards
• Personal Stationery
• Photo Card Paper Frames
• Special Occasion Invitations
• Stationery Sets
• Thank You Cards
• Wedding Invitations

Enjoy sending an elegant invitation or message with your own creative letterpress design. Drop by to see some samples or give us a call at 612-522-7600.