PRINTING TECHNIQUES
Elevating Elegance: Diving Into Wedding Invitation Printing Techniques
When it comes to wedding planning, every detail matters. Among the many decisions to make, the choice of printing technique for your wedding invitations can be a nuanced one, which means a bit of specialized guidance can’t hurt. So join us on a journey into the world of wedding invitation printing techniques. These techniques vary in cost, timing and result, but each offers its own unique artistry and sophistication. Don’t underestimate their potential to elevate your overall wedding aesthetic!
DIGITAL PRINTING
Couples seeking versatility and affordability often opt for digital printing, or “flat printing,” which offers a wide range of customization and virtually any color combination you can imagine. With digital printing, we transfer designs from a digital file onto paper using high-quality printers. This technique allows for vibrant colors, intricate details and personalized touches, making it ideal for couples interested in printing a photograph, watercolor crest or colorful venue illustration. We also use this technique for “variable data” jobs like printing guest addresses on envelopes. Digital printing offers endless possibilities!
DIGITAL PRINTING AT A GLANCE
Cost: $
Great for: printing many colors at once, printing white onto darker papers and envelopes
Colors available: unlimited (printed all at once)
Digitally printed watercolor crest and venue illustrations
Thermography on Paris wedding save the date
THERMOGRAPHY
Combining the sophistication of engraving with the affordability of offset printing, thermography, or “raised-ink printing,” offers a cost-effective alternative for couples who want a touch of elegance on a budget. For this technique, we mix slow-drying ink with a powdery resin. After offset printing the invitation, we add the resin to the wet ink, dust off the excess (like glitter on glue) and then apply heat to melt the resin. This results in a raised print with a shimmery appearance. With its classic appeal and budget-friendly pricing, thermography is a popular choice for couples desiring elegance without compromise.
THERMOGRAPHY AT A GLANCE
Cost: $$
Great for: adding texture, metallics
Colors available: limited (printed one color at a time)
LETTERPRESS
Steeped in tradition and elegance, letterpress printing is a timeless technique that exudes sophistication. To print this way, we etch your artwork onto a polymer printing plate in reverse. We add ink to the press one color at a time, then feed paper through the press, which leaves an inked impression from the plate on the paper. The resulting invitation is a tactile experience that delights the senses, beautifully textured with crisp, deep impressions. Couples seeking a classic and refined aesthetic often gravitate toward letterpress printing for its timeless charm and beautiful matte impressions.
LETTERPRESS AT A GLANCE
Cost: $$$
Great for: thick papers, matching specific colors, adding texture
Colors available: Pantone library (ink is hand-mixed and printed one color at a time)
FOIL STAMPING
For a touch of opulence and glamour, look no further than foil stamping. Like letterpress printing, foil stamping leaves an impression on the paper – but with a stunning, reflective finish. Foil stamping is unique in that it does not use ink, but instead a combination of heat, pressure, metal printing dies and rolls of pigmented foil film. The printing die is heated, then hit with enough pressure from the press to seal a layer of foil to the paper. Gold, silver and rose gold are popular choices, but we love almost any color in a foil stamp! Holographic foil, for instance, has recently gained popularity as a great choice for a rainbow or mirrored effect. Whether used for intricate designs or elegant accents, foil stamping elevates invitations and delivers unparalleled shine.
FOIL STAMPING AT A GLANCE
Cost: $$$
Great for: thick papers, adding glam, printing on dark papers
Colors available: metallics and various matte colors (stamped one color at a time)
EMBOSSING AND DEBOSSING
Embossing and debossing techniques add depth and dimension to wedding invitations, creating visual and tactile interest with texture rather than color. To emboss, we customize a metal die with your artwork. The die is pressed into the paper from the back, which slightly lifts the image off the paper, creating a raised effect that catches the light and adds texture to the invitation. In contrast, debossing involves pressing a design into the paper from the front, creating a recessed effect that adds subtle sophistication. Whether used for monograms or borders, embossing and debossing add a touch of luxury and refinement to wedding invitations.
EMBOSSING AND DEBOSSING AT A GLANCE
Cost: $$$
Great for: thick papers, monograms, borders, decorative accents
Colors available: typically colorless, called “blind embossing” or “blind debossing,” but metallics can be added
Blind debossed M&P
Traditional engraved wedding invitation
ENGRAVING
Engraving is a labor-intensive printing technique that is the epitome of refinement. It is a popular choice for those who want their wedding invitations to exude sophistication. What sets engraving apart from other techniques is its unmatched depth and clarity. For this technique, a steel or copper plate is etched with your artwork (backwards) and filled with ink. The printing plate is pressed onto the paper with extreme pressure, leaving a distinctive raised impression with an obvious texture on the paper. One notable difference between engraving and thermography is apparent as soon as you turn an engraved piece over. Engraving leaves an impression, often called “bruising,” on the back of the piece due to the tremendous pressure of the printing press.
ENGRAVING AT A GLANCE
Cost: $$$$
Great for: thick papers, black and white tie events, printing on dark papers
Colors available: metallics and various matte colors (printed one color at a time)
Not sure which printing technique is right for you? We’re here to help you navigate the options. And you don’t have to settle for just one – we can combine techniques to create a beautifully printed piece that will wow your family and friends.