Printing Methods for Stationery: Adding Texture and Style
Letterpress, foil, emboss—oh my! And oh my, do we love them all. We offer a variety of printing methods for custom stationery, each adding its own unique look and texture to the paper. Let’s explore what makes each method special and how they can bring your vision to life.
Types of Printing Methods
Letterpress
Nothing swoons us more! If you haven’t noticed by now, we are completely obsessed with the timeless look of letterpress—it’s a signature method in all of our projects. Letterpress printing, a centuries-old technique, continues to captivate with its timeless appeal. Originating in the 15th century with Gutenberg's press, this method revolutionized printing and has remained a favorite for its artisanship.
Reconstructed Gutenberg's printing press. Photo credit: Iryna Budanova
A Timeless Love Affair for Every Style
While letterpress is celebrated for its luxurious feel, it’s far from limited to fancy or formal designs. Quite the opposite, really! Check out some of our designs to see for yourself. Its versatility makes it a badass match for any style—from sleek and modern to playful, fun, and yes, camp too! With its deep shadows and tactile charm, letterpress invitations can bring a bold, unique personality to any piece. Letterpress invitations feel extra special—made to be kept and admired.
Bold, textured, unforgettable letterpress invitations
Where Old-School Charm Meets Modern Magic
Modern letterpress combines traditional artisanship with contemporary technology. Designs are first created digitally and transferred onto polymer plates, which are mounted onto the press, inked, and pressed into paper to create the signature impression.
Impression Styles: From 'Kiss' to Deep Press
Historically, letterpress was known for a "kiss" impression—a light touch that transferred ink with only a subtle relief on the paper. This creates a delicate and refined look. Today, many admire a deeper impression that adds a pillow-like feel. Deeper impressions can create more noticeable relief on the back of the paper, adding to the handcrafted aesthetic.
Pricing Considerations
Letterpress pricing is determined by the number of colors used. Each color requires a separate plate and press run, so costs increase with additional colors. Designs using one spot color are more cost-effective than those with two or more spot colors. A blind impression—where no ink is used—counts as a color pass.
Foil Stamping
Foil stamping, also known as hot foil stamping, is a printing technique that uses heat and metal plates to press foil onto paper, leaving a light impression and creating eye-catching designs with a reflective sheen.
A hint of shine: Foil stamping can bring glam, elegance, or playfulness to stationery
A Flash of Brilliance
Foil stamping shares similarities with letterpress printing in that both utilize custom plates and pressure to transfer designs onto paper. However, a key distinction lies in the application of heat during the foil stamping process. This technique imparts a metallic finish that catches the light, adding an impressive shine to your stationery and creating a striking contrast with the paper, making every detail stand out.
But foil stamping isn’t limited to metallics! It also offers matte and glossy options, giving you endless ways to add a classic accent or a vibrant pop of color pressed into the paper. Combine foil stamping with letterpress, and the results can be extraordinary—think opulence, luxury, or pure camp! Holographic foil? Let’s do it.
The endless options with foil printing
Pricing Considerations
Due to its specialized materials and extra steps, foil stamping costs more than letterpress. Like letterpress, pricing depends on the number of foils used, with each foil requiring its own plate. Adding multiple foils increases cost, but the stunning, light-catching results make it a worthwhile investment for those who want to make a bold statement.
Embossed
Embossing is a premium printing method that raises design elements above the paper’s surface, creating a tactile, three-dimensional effect. This process uses two custom-made metal plates that press the paper between them, sculpting the design into a raised relief.
Design That Pops (Literally!)
Embossing comes in two distinct styles:
Blind Embossing: This technique raises the design without any added color, relying solely on the paper’s texture and shadows for a subtle, elegant effect.
Foil Embossing: This method combines embossing with foil stamping, adding colored or metallic foil to the raised design. The result is a vibrant, eye-catching contrast that takes your stationery to the next level.
Foil and embossed wedding invitations: subtle texture meets bold elegance
Pricing Considerations
Embossed invitations is all about making a statement. The specialized plates and intricate process make it one of the most premium options, but the result? Pure magic. With its striking texture and dimensional appeal, embossing transforms stationery into something unforgettable.
Flat Digital Printing
Flat digital printing is a method that uses a four-color process to apply toner directly onto the surface of the paper. This technique produces vibrant, full-color designs in a single pass, making it both efficient and versatile. However, it works best with lighter, smooth papers and isn’t suitable for thicker or handmade materials.
How We Use It
At our studio, flat digital printing is not offered as a standalone service as we specialize in letterpress. Instead, we incorporate it to complement letterpress, foil, or emboss projects when appropriate, and for practical uses like guest envelope printing.
Flat digital printing seamlessly paired with letterpress and foil embossed wedding invitations
Let’s Bring Your Vision to Life
With so many printing methods to consider, we recommend starting by defining your vision and the story you want your stationery to tell. We know choosing a print method can feel a bit like picking a dessert—everything looks amazing. That’s where we come in, helping you balance your budget and your style to create something truly unique and unforgettable.
Have questions about which print method is right for you? Let’s kiki.
