As you select paper for your invitations, it’s important to keep in mind the type of card stock you’re choosing. Why is this important? Because some heavier, specialty card stocks are not compatible with home printing methods such as inkjet or laser printing. If you have selected a premium quality card stock that is ultra heavyweight or has a special printing surface, opt to have your invitations professionally printed using one or more of the techniques described below.
LCI’s Gmund card stocks such as the Vice Versa and Subtil lines are perfectly suited to a variety of printing processes, including thermography, engraving, and letterpress. The heavy weight and embossed surface of these stocks (Subtil, for example, has a special micro-embossed mica surface) may not be suitable for home printing, but will yield beautiful, professional results with the following techniques.
If you opt to go the professional route, realize that all printing processes are not the same. Depending on the look you desire, the card stock you’ve picked, and the money you’ve budgeted, some processes may be a better choice than others.
Listed below are brief definitions of a few of the more common printing processes.
Offset Printing (also known as Lithography)
Offset printing is a popular technique that produces clear, sharp letters and images. The letters are put onto plates that are dampened first with water. Ink is then added to the plates, which adheres to the letters and resists mixing with the water. The letter plates are transferred to a rubber blanket and from there onto paper. This is why the technique is called “offset”, because the lettered plates do not contact the paper directly. With offset, the ink lies flat on the paper’s surface. Catalogs and magazines are popular examples of offset printing.
Letterpress
The letterpress process “indents” the text or image onto the card stock surface. The type of paper you’re printing on affects the end result. Thicker, softer papers encourage a deeper impression versus hard or thin papers. Letterpress was the world standard until it gave way to offset printing in the 1930’s.
Engraving
Engraving “raises” the text or images above the printing surface by pressing the paper against a recessed plate. Ink is applied to the raised area of the printing surface. Look at a coin and you’ll see a good example of traditional engraving. Engraving produces the sharpest results of all the traditional printing methods discussed here. Because engraving is such a specialized process, it typically costs more than other printing options.
Thermography
Like engraving, thermography raises the text or images above the printing surface. Thermography uses different equipment and a different process than engraving, and as a result is less expensive. The paper is printed and a powder is added to the wet ink. The paper is passed under heat, fusing the ink and powder together. The result is a raised surface, similar to engraving. Since thermography is more affordable than engraving, it is a popular alternative. Some printers use thermography in conjunction with other printing methods, most notably offset.
Some uses for thermography include:
- Wedding Invitations
- Event Announcements
- Greeting Cards
- Annual Report Covers
- Presentation Folders
- Letterhead & Business Stationery
- Wrapping Paper
For more information on thermography, read the article “What is Thermography?" by the Worldwide Printing Thermographers Association.
Regardless of which printing method you choose, always ask the printer for samples of previous work. Quality printers should also offer guidance and advice as to which printing method would be best for you based on your budget and desired results.
Tags: printing processes, card+stock, offset printing, lithography, engraving, letterpress, thermography, invitation papers
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