In addition to choosing the graphics that represent you (whether catalogue or customised), it is important to understand how you envision the invitations. The options are many and you have to understand the difference between a hammered paper and a handmade one, between digital printing and letterpress printing; to understand why the printing price is so different.
Today I am talking about the 3 printing methods I propose and the differences between them; I will guide you in understanding the printing method and the type of paper that suits you.
This will help you find the invitation you represents and, above all, respects the budget you have allocated for the participations, so it will be easier to make a decision.
Professional Digital Printing
colours and technologyi
Digital printing is certainly the one you are most familiar with, in this case a professional industrial digital printer, has a better and wider colour rendition than common printers, allowing printing on non-uniform and much thicker surface papers such as the cards I offer.
The ink is applied directly onto the paper without any embossing or metallic effect. Being an industrial process, this is the most economical of the different techniques I propose.
Letterpress printing
discovering an ancient art
Here are the movable typefaces that are used for letterpress, an ad hoc plate will be made with your graphics.
Letterpress printing is essentially the revival of an ancient printing technique, where old printing presses are used which work mechanically. To print in letterpress, it is necessary to make metal plates (nowadays usually made of plastic), technically called “letterpress plates”, which will be used to create the impression on the individual piece of paper. In order to make a letterpress print, it is necessary to create a vector file that allows the engraving to be made precisely on the plate which will then be used to print your invitations.
The colour is prepared and mixed by hand.
The first thing to understand about letterpress is that you have to print each colour separately, the ink must be mixed by hand, producing the exact shade desired, and then applied to the rollers. The specially created letterpress plate is loaded onto the machine and dipped into the rollers, after which a manual 100% job begins, by individually loading one card at a time, which is pressed and thus printed.
One colour at a time (in this case light blue) is loaded onto the reels and plate
If you have decided to print in two colours, each individual piece must be passed through the machine, not once, but twice because each plate can only do one colour.
I recommend the use of 450g cotton paper, thanks to its thickness, the letterpress will leave a very clear impression, they will be beautiful pieces to hold and touch.
By using thicker papers, such as 450g cotton paper, the embossing effect will be much more noticeable.
Letterpress printing is an ancient art, handcrafted pieces are created, involves more effort than any other type of printing, is manual work, which requires a great deal of patience and technical knowledge, which makes letterpress printing much more expensive than digital printing.
Hot stamping
an elegant and timeless detail
Hot foil stamping, is a printing method very similar to letterpress, involving instead of ink, the application of a metal foil, using a heated plate, heat and pressure will make this foil permanently adhere to the surface of the cardboard
To print you need the customised plate with your design and a roll of metal foil in your chosen colour.
It is a technique that is frequently used in conjunction with digital printing. Invitations are first digitally printed (you can have different colours and shades), then they are pressed in the machine to add names and details with that beautiful metallic effect.
The roll is loaded with the desired metallic colour and through heat this is transferred onto the paper.
The metal roll is spun on the machine and, thanks to pressure and heat, the foil is transferred onto the surface of the paper.
I recommend the use of a homogeneous paper such as smooth paper or translucent paper, its even surface allows better adhesion of the foil, This way, the final effect will present a brilliant and regular print.
This technique is ideal for printing on smooth, homogeneous papers such as translucent paper.
Paper types
an elegant and timeless detail
- 1. Hammered 300gr -
Marked paper, rough to the touch, ideal for digital printing
- 2. Artisan 340gr -
Handmade paper with irregular edges
- 3. Translucent 230gr -
Semi-transparent paper, suitable for hot stamping and digital printing
- 4. Cotton 360/450 g -
Thick paper perfect for letterpress
- 5. Smooth 250gr -
Smooth and homogeneous paper, perfect for hot stamping
- 6. Coloured 240/300gr -
Paper available in 9 colours, ideal for elegant and simple graphics
Sample Kit
This kit will help you understand the printing methods, paper types, colours and accessories available; it will allow you to order your Wedding Suite with confidence, knowing the quality of the products you have chosen.
