When you’re pricing invitations, be sure to take note of the printing process being quoted. Pricing will vary greatly depending on the type of printing.
Letterpress - Letterpress is the original mechanical printing process founded by Gutenberg in 1440. Words and images on the printing plate are raised, which produces an indentaion on the paper as the plate strikes it. Fewer printers are doing Letterpress these days and it comes at a premium price, though the results are elegant and give a very luxurious feel to any invitation.
Offset Printing/Lithography – Ink is first applied to metal plates and transfered to a rubber cylinder, then onto the paper. The ink sits flush with the paper and has a flat texture. Varnishes can be applied on top of the print to make it appear matte, glossy, or metallic.
Thermography – Commpnly used for wedding invitations, less expensive than engraving – print is slightly raised and glossy. A printed image is dusted with a powder before the ink is dry. Heat is applied which fuses the ink and powder together and creates the raised texture. (Similar to embossing you might do with rubber stamps). Most traditional mass-produced catalog invitations use Thermography.
Digital Printing - The newest printing process, prints directly from a computer file and requires much less set-up time than all other types of printing. High-quality laser, ink-jet and web-based presses can achieve beautiful results that can be fully-controlled by a knowledgeble printer. Digital printing is usuallythe most cost-effective printing process for smaller quantities (under several hundred of each design).
