What are the Different Types of Printing?
NOTE: NOT ALL PRINTING METHODS ARE AVAILABLE FOR ALL ITEMS
FLAT
Technically known as Offset / Lithography, flat printing is recognized by clean edges and a smooth print. Flat printing is recommended for images that are shaded or screened.
THERMOGRAPHY
Freshly printed inks are dusted with a powder compound. The excess powder on the non-printing areas is removed, and the sheet passes under a heater, fusing the ink and powdered compound, and raising the image to simulate the look of engraving. Thermography is not suitable for images that are screened.
FOIL STAMPING
Foil stamping, typically a commercial print process, is the application of pigment or metallic foil, often gold or silver , but can also be various patterns or what is known as pastel foil which is a flat opaque color or white special film-backed material, to paper where a heated die is stamped onto the foil, making it adhere to the surface leaving the design of the die on the paper. Foil stamping is available in only Gold and Silver inks.
MATTE THERMOGRAPHY
Matte thermography uses an alternative powder compound that is not as shiny as standard thermography, resulting in a dull or "matte" look. Matte Thermography is available for all ink colors except metallic inks (Silver, Gold or Copper). The charge for this is $50 per ink color ordered. Note that when ordering Midnight (a standard black matte ink offering) there is no additional charge.
EMBOSSING
Embossing creates a raised image on the paper, but without ink. Because embossing requires a thicker line to produce a clear impression in the paper, please select Typestyles and Monograms prefaced with an E (example: E-199) or Designs with number followed by [E] (example:0-240[E)), which are suitable for embossing.
LETTERPRESS
The oldest and most versatile method of printing was originally done from cast metal type or plates on which the image or printing areas are raised above the non-printing areas of the plate.
Ink touches the top surface of the raised areas; the surrounding (non-printed) areas are lower and do not receive ink. The inked image is transferred directly into the paper. Sometimes a slight embossing appears on the reverse side of the paper. The letterpress image is sharp and crisp.
ENGRAVING
The image is cut or etched into a copper plate. The plate is inked, then the surface is wiped clean, leaving ink only in the depressed (etched) areas of the plate. The paper is forced against the plate with tremendous pressure, drawing the ink from the depressed areas. This produces the characteristic bruised impression on the back of the paper. When se lecting engrav ing as your printing method, prices include the cost of the engrav ing di es. If you send your own engraving die, please deduct $25 per die. All dies will be returned
with your order.
