How Are They Printed?

I get a lot of brides asking me how they should get their wedding invitations printed. Since there are so many different options, I thought I would go over some of them for all of you. Of course, no stationer expects you to know exactly what type of printing you’re wanting. However, knowing may save you some money in the end!

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Calligraphy:

The perfected art of handwriting/penmanship. Often associated with fancy, curlicue script, calligraphy is now comprised of several genres and styles.

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Embossing:

A printing technique that forms letters and images with a raised “relief” surface, imparting added dimension to the invitation design. Usually used for large initials or borders.

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Engraving:

The most formal of printing methods, through which the letters appear slightly raised. A “bruise” typically forms on the back of the paper from the pressure. Engraving plate: An etched steel die used to create engraved type or images.

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Letterpress:

A beautiful printing alternative to engraving (but more expensive). The labor-intensive method dates back to the fifteenth century and involves inking an image to produce an impression: the impression is transferred by placing paper against the image and manually applying pressure. The images and typeface appear precise — individually “stamped into” the paper — and very rich in color. Letterpress is great if you’re using unusual paper, motifs, typeface, or want to play around with pigments. Comparatively, engraving and thermography restrict the possibilities.

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Digital or Offset-printed:

The “flat” printing used on everyday fliers, letterhead, stickers, and more. It’s a nice choice if you want to save lots of cash, use highly textured paper, or several different colors of ink (with engraving and embossing, you’re usually limited to just one).

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Thermography:

Probably the most popular print method (it’s less expensive than engraving.) A heat-based process fuses ink and resinous powder to create raised lettering. It’s virtually indistinguishable from engraving work. The subtle differences: thermographed text is slightly shiny and the back of the invitation remains smooth (no impression).

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