The Invitation Printing Process Explained

Choosing the best printing option for your wedding invitations can be confusing because there are so many options. And custom invitation printing cannot be tested until it is actually printed. Let’s go through each option in detail so you can make the best decision for your wedding style, guest list size, and budget.

Digital

Process: Similar to the desktop laser printer or inkjet printer you have in your office. These printers revolutionized the printing industry twenty years ago by giving us other ways besides offset printing to reproduce documents.
Pros: This option offers you the most versatility at the lowest price. Digital printing results in a crisp, precise look with no loss in quality. Your design options are virtually infinite because there are no restrictions as to what can be printed. You can print your invitations in small to large amounts with very minimal cost discrepancy.
Cons: Limited papers, no metallic inks, can not print heavy paper weights
Cost: $
With the money you save using digital printing, you can complete your invitation suite by adding place cards, menu cards, signage, ceremony programs, thank you notes and carry out your style and design throughout your entire wedding day and after.

Offset

Process: Offset printing is the most common printing method where an inked plate is transferred to a roller and is then transferred onto the paper.
Pros: High quality; exact ink color matches; ink permeates the paper and does not have the sheen that digital toner does; can handle heavier paper weights (120 lb +)
Cons: Can be expensive for smaller invitation quantities
Cost: $$

Letterpress

Process: Letterpress is one of the oldest forms for printing and is done by hand. After a reversed, relief plate is made, it is inked and pressed into the surface of the paper.
Pros: Luxurious, classic and very tactile; gives the simplest design a large impact; exact ink color matches
Cons: Full color photographs and large inked areas are not possible. only able to print one color at a time, which means, the more colors you want, your costs will rise.
Cost: $$$

Thermography

Process: Thermography is also referred to as raised printing and gives the appearance to engraving, but uses a completely different process. The design is printed with a plastic resin powder and pigment ink, which are later exposed to extreme heat and subsequently become embossed.
Pros: Provides a tactile feel, exact ink color matches, great for metallic and light-colored inks on dark papers
Cons: Surface of ink is slightly textured compared to engraving, small quantities can be expensive
Cost: $$$

Foil Stamping

Process: A metal plate is produced from the design where the foil is to be applied. Enough heat and pressure is applied to the plate to transfer a thin piece of foil substrate to the paper.
Pros: Ability to print light-colored, metallic and even clear colors on dark papers; completely opaque ‘ink’ coverage; endless paper options
Cons: Full color photographs are not possible, cost increases for each color used
Cost: $$$

Engraving

Process: A copper or steel plate is created and etched with your invitation design. Ink is smoothed onto it while paper is fed through a machine where extreme pressure is placed on the paper, pressing down the letters and design.
Pros: Sharpest detail; luxurious and very tactile, exact ink color matches, great for metallic and light-colored inks on dark papers
Cons: Full color photographs and large inked areas are not possible. Each color requires its own plate and a separate pass on the printing press
Cost: $$$$

Laser Cutting

Process: A laser is guided by the computer file of your design and is capable of cutting intricate designs. Read more about it here .
Pros: Beautifully intricate design
Cons: Cost increases with design intricacy and size, cost per piece does not decrease significantly with higher quantities
Cost: $$$

Along with these very popular printing techniques, you can choose a variety of paper and inks that fit your style. T he sky really is the limit. There are so many options and I would be happy to go over them with you during a consultation .

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