Letterpress | Letterpress Printing Services | Gold Image Printing

What is Letterpress Printing?

Letterpress printing is the oldest form of printing that is still relevant today. It is often described as a form of relief printing that allows many copies of print to be produced by use of a letterpress printing machine, also known as a letterpress printing press, in order to literally "press" into the paper. Wondering "How does letterpress work?" or want a letterpress printing definition? Well, the basic idea is that you have pieces of moveable type, which look like metal letter blocks, which are rolled over with printing material to produce the desired effect. Have you ever gotten a business card or invitation that has a tactile depression on all or some words? That's letterpress! When Gutenberg developed the printing press with movable type over 500 years ago, he would have been delighted to hear that letterpress is still well regarded for its elegance today. It is a classic touch to any printing and always excites its recipient and has a wide variety of uses. If you have any questions about how you can make use of it, read on to learn more, or head right over to our custom quote page to request help in finding a product or set of products that's right for you. 

How Letterpress Printing is Used

When using letterpress printing it's important that you use a paper stock that's thick enough to handle the process without damaging the integrity of the paper it's printed on. If this crucial step is ignored or overlooked you may still end up with letterpress depressions, but the result will be far less pronounced or in worst cases the paper might get ruined. No one wants a crumbling invitation, so to help avoid such disappointments we already have pre-selected some excellent paper stocks to help make your decision hassle free and reliable, while keeping those prices affordable. One such option is our 17.5pt Cover- Eggshell Ultra White. This paper stock is extra sturdy with a great luxurious texture. It is the best choice if you looking for thicker, textured stock, which is why it works so well with letterpress. For those of you who still want to do more writing by hand you can do that too since it's an uncoated stock. If you want to kick it up a notch, we also offer this same Eggshell Ultra White stock as a 35pt Super Cover. Another material we use for letterpress is Crane's Lettra Fluorescent White Paper. This stock was made for letterpress initially, making it a perfect fit. It carries just the right shade for a modern look and feels like fabric. If you're interested in another of our paper stocks, let us know with a custom quote and we'll work with you to sort it out or point you in the right direction. Letterpress printing services are offered through a custom quote.

Our Letterpress Printing Products

At Gold Image Printing, we offer the best when you look for letterpress printing near me. One of the popular products that makes excellent use of the letterpress printing process is letterpress business cards. As we mentioned earlier, a business card with a name or company that's pressed in is hard to resist. Your current and future clients will find themselves repeatedly running their fingers over your business cards. Another great way to take advantage of this memorable element is with our letterpress wedding invitations. With the amount of mail we tend to get around wedding season, the worst thing that can happen is your invitation being forgotten in a pile. When you add letterpress to the invitations your recipients will be sure to put them somewhere they can look at frequently as your big day approaches. Other great choices for letterpress are our letterpress hang tags and our letterpress note cards, both of which boast those memorable recesses. 

Collaboration with other Specialties

Not only does our letterpress printer and process allow for some truly inspiring products to come to use, but it also allows us to include other specialties in conjunction for a truly unique luxury experience. Any letterpress printing company can promise letterpress, but when you go with Gold Image Printing you will get it done right with the added benefit of plenty of customization. One specialty that works great with letterpressing is soft touch laminate. Just because you're using thicker paper it doesn't mean it has to be rough or grainy, you can customize to your heart's content. You can also make use of letterpress with white ink for that doubly classic look with modern quality. Choose foil stamping or digital foil, both of which let you make elaborate use of our expansive foil color chart, in order to add some shine to your pressed paper. For a variation on the theme, you can get embossing, which pulls the print toward the reader. Debossing is similar to letterpressing and can be learned about more in our Gold Image Printing Blog post: Which Should I Choose: Deboss or Letterpress?. If you're ever interested in making a lineup or series of different products that make use of our various specialties including letterpress, we highly recommend you set up a corporate account. Whenever you need a specialty added, just make a request for a custom quote!

To Sum it Up

Letterpress at its core is about adding an elegant touch to your impressive printing. Whether you're using it for promotional purposes, marketing in stores, memorable cards, or invitations, you will always be leading your recipients into the lap of luxury. This simple printing process transforms even the most basic design into something rich and full of character. We look forward to hearing from you regarding your next order of letterpress products. Get started on your letterpress shopping today!