Types of Printing

There are a few different types of printing available to use on wedding stationery.  You will see them all over wedding invitation websites and Pinterest.  All the printing types give a different look and feel.  The same design will look very different depending on the type of printing used.  Take a look at different printing types:

1. Digital printing- this is the most common form of printing.  When you print on a laser printer or an inkjet you are digital printing.  This is also the most cost-effective method of printing.  The design possibilities are endless.
   
2. Offset printing: this requires a special machine and the design is put on a plate and then a rubber sheet and then transferred to paper.  This is typically how newspapers are printed (on long rolls of paper and then cut after printing).  It is ideal for large runs (like newspapers or books) because there is a high level of consistency among the prints.
   
3. Thermography: this process uses powder and ink laid onto card stock and then heated to harden the ink mixture onto the paper.  This makes for a raised ink feel on the paper.  You can feel the ink mixture when you rub your hand over the text on the card stock.  This is a multistep process and is very particular and there is a cost associated with that.
   
4. Letterpress: this is a very labor-intensive process, so it is an expensive type of stationery printing.  A plate is created and ink is rolled on to the plate.  The card stock is laid on the plate and pressure is applied which makes an imprint on the card stock and presses the ink into the paper as well.  It creates the opposite feel of thermography.  Letterpress is limited on design and fonts because of the ink as well as the thickness of the lines required in the fonts and designs.  If the lines are too thin the impression will not take and the design won’t print properly
   
5. Foil stamping: this process involves pressing a thin foil into the card stock just like letterpress except with heat added to get the foil to stay in the card stock.  The cost is similar to letterpress.
   
6. Hand lettering/calligraphy: this is done by a person.  Usually a very talented person (not me!) writing each item by hand.  This is highly labor intensive and due to that it is very costly.  Using glitter pens or paint pens gives a look that you cannot get with any other type of printing done by a machine.
   

Each type of printing has its pros and cons and it is up to each couple to decide what fits their wedding design and budget.  Between all the different printing types the options are limitless.  Pinterest has a ton of examples of each type of printing.  Take a look around there and see what jumps out at you.  Then look for a stationery designer to help you with your design (like me!).
Keywords: wedding, wedding invitations, thermography, letterpress, hand lettering, digital printing, foil wedding invitations, wedding budget, invitation design, Pinterest