Speaking of time....date and time for event set, check. Venue reserved, check. Guest list finished, check. Invitation card stock ordered, check. Print type chosen....whoa, wait. Huh?
I remember sitting at the table in the invitations store, flipping through sample books, and coming to the realization that I really have NO idea about what makes each printing type different. Furthermore, I kept asking myself, "Will anyone notice if I choose the cheapest option?" And the answer is, dear reader, that yes, most paper and printing snobs will definitely be able to differentiate between the Big Four: engraving, themography, letterpress, and offset printing. But in reality, how many of us even know a paper snob (or furthermore care about impressing them), but instead would rather just be able to make an educated decision the next time they design their soiree's invitation? Me me me me!!
So, here's an explanation of the various options that are most commonly offered in the world of printing:
Engraving: The most classic and formal method of printing using an etched steel die to create the engraved text. A design (or text) is etched into a metal or copper plate (creating a die), and then ink is then applied to it so the cavities of the etching are filled. The die is then wiped clean leaving the design (or text) filled with ink. A hard plastic or paper counter is pressed into the backside of the paper, causing the paper to fill into the crevices of the die (which are filled with ink).
This entire process was incredibly confusing to me at first, so here are a couple of analogies: The die is NOT pressed into the paper, like a cookie cutter presses [die] into cookie dough [paper]; rather the paper is pressed into the die from behind , like putting your hand [paper] into a Pin Point Needle Impression toy [die].) Letters will appear slightly raised on the page, and an indentation typically forms on the back of the paper from the pressure of the engraving plate.
Interestingly enough, engraving is so precise that its most common use today is to print bank notes. Because of the high level of microscopic detail that can be achieved by a master engraver, counterfeiting of engraved designs is almost impossible, and modern banknotes are almost always engraved, as are plates for printing money, checks, bonds and other security-sensitive papers. The engraving is so fine that a normal printer cannot recreate the detail of hand engraved images, nor can it be scanned. In the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing, more than one hand engraver will work on the same plate, making it nearly impossible for one person to duplicate all the engraving on a particular banknote or document.
An example of an engraved invitation. The White House calligraphers write the invitation by hand and create a template. Then, the design is uploaded into their computer and sent to the printers to create an engraving plate. Beautiful!
(I actually worked on this event...I was 3 feet away from the Queen of England!
And oh, how I envied her crown!)
courtesy of the New York Times
An engraving plate
courtesy of wikimedia
A master engraver etching the design for a British bank note.
courtesy of capitalof london.com
Thermography: A very popular “alternative” to engraving that is significantly less expensive. The lettering is raised to mimic the feel of engraving, but it is done though a heating process where resin is applied to wet ink. The resin is then removed from all areas, except where it adheres to the wet ink. The paper is then heated causing the resin to melt and fuse to the ink. (The reaction from combining resin, heat, and ink causes a bubbling action to take place, and then it's dried in that state, producing the raised effect.) The material (or paper) is then cooled, which finalizes the process. Since there is less manual labor required than with engraving, thermography is a much more cost effective solution for raised printing than engraving.
On thermographed invitations, the back of the invitation feels smooth, with no indentation from engraving plates, and thermography typically has more shine to the ink than engraving.
But, themography is to engraving as polyester is to wool, formica is to granite, or vinyl is to leather. It's nearly impossible to replicate the quality of engraving, but it's close!
Example of themography printing
A thermography printing machine
courtesy of allgraphicdesign.com
Letterpress: A beautiful printing method dating back to the fifteenth century, but very popular today, where the images and typeface are actually pressed into the paper with an antique machine, leaving an impression that you can see and feel. Letterpressing is the opposite of engraving (it's the cookie dough and the cookie cutter). Letterpress works especially well if you are using unusual paper, motifs, typeface, or colorful inks.
Letterpress die cuts
courtesy of Country Living
Embossing: Embossing is the sister technique to engraving, but ink is NOT used and mirror-imaged dies are pressed into each other, leaving an indention on the back side. Embossing uses what's termed a "male and female die [cut]," which is basically 2 plates that fit together that are mirror images of the design/text. (I hope I don't need to explain this term any further...). The paper is then impressed from the back side into the mirror-image die, pushing the paper into its cavities. (Engraving is different from embossing since it uses a flat counter plate to press the paper into the die, leaving the back of the paper flat but the image on the front raised, with ink.) You probably pass embossed items everyday without realizing that it's art!
Embossed Save the Date
courtesy of picolo press
I know this isn't paper related, but I'm all googly-eyed over this embossed wall-paper. :)
courtesy of ApartmentTherapy.blogspot.com
Debossing: Debossing is literally the opposite of embossing and is very similar to letterpressing. The die is reversed so that the images are pressed into the surface's front, resulting in a depression (rather than a raised image as with embossing). The impression is made on the back side, and ink is not used in this process either.
Dog tags are examples of debossing.
courtesy of dogtagsrus.com
Debossed invitation
(Notice - no ink! Or it would be considered letterpress.)
courtesy of cinnamon kiss papers
Foil Stamping: Foil stamping basically uses the same process as letterpressing and debossing, but a piece of foil (or other metallic sheet) is inserted in between the die and the paper. The die is heated and pressed into the foil (and thus into the paper), and the foil is melted and transferred to the paper in the image of the die. Foil stamping is used to create metallic looks, especially for accent designs, since most ink is considered flat and without sheen. (You'll see a lot of this around the Holiday Season.)
Invitation with foil stamped accent graphic
Now you can call yourself a Printing Princess!
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