Paper so good you can feel it.
Learn more about the oh-so analog print process
What is
letterpress?
Letterpress is a centuries-old printmaking process that historically involves composing movable type pieces (individually cut lead or wooden letters) in a process called typesetting and locking those pieces into the press. As the press turns, the form is inked with rollers that glide over the surface, and as the platen meets the form, and an impression is made.
There are many types of presses used in letterpress printing. Betty (our number one girl) is a platen press. Flat bed presses, like the Vandercook, are also a common style of press used for this process. No matter the press, one thing remains the same: each piece of paper that is printed is hand fed, one by one. A true labor or love.
We are able to utilize new methods of plate-making to create completely custom designs outside of the realms of just typesetting. With these innovations, we breathe new life into this antique printing process, pairing our thoughtful and experimental design sensibilities with tried and true methods to create a stationery experience that combines style and substance.
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Our bread and butter service. We started offering letterpress printing services in 2021. Since then, it has continued to be the process most of our customers seek us out for. We are able to utilize new methods of plate-making to create completely custom designs outside of the realms of just typesetting. This process creates an oh-so-satisfying deboss effect on the paper, leaving you with a tactile experience unlike anything else. In an age of design where so much of what we interact with lives on a screen, letterpress printing creates a memorable and luxurious experience for every recipient.
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Embossing creates a raised effect, rather than debossing, which creates an impression in the paper. Using two plates and great amounts of pressure from our platen press, the paper is sandwiched between a raised back and counter-die front to create the emboss text or design. Because this is done with dies, there is no ink involved. The raised paper catches light and shadow in a delightfully delicate and impactful way.
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Foil printing is done using a hot foil press (ours came from the UK!). Similar to the result of letterpress printing, an impression (deboss) is made in the paper, but instead of a flat ink print, we get a glistening and reflective foil. We can order metallic foil in many shades, including holographic, but we love using our classic yellow gold.
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Due to the transparent nature of letterpress inks, we are limited to printing dark ink on lighter paper. To print lighter color inks against darker or vibrant paper colors, we can use pigmented foil printing. A matte white pigment foil is our go to for a classic white on dark look.
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We offer custom die-cutting both with any of our existing dies in our library, or with a custom new shape. Die cutting is done by using a steel rule die manufactured to the exact custom shape that is designed. Paper is then fed, one by one, through our press with the die locked up to punch out the shape. What’s left is a completely custom shape unique to your project.
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Duplexing refers to the process of gluing two pieces of paper together. This can be helpful when printing double sided designs, combining digital and letterpress processes, or simply for making a paper stock thicker, allowing for a deeper impression.
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We get it, not everyone loves the tedious tasks of assembling and mailing invitations. Lucky for you, WE DO! We’ll assemble your suite to the same execution and standards of a sample we mail to you for approval. If you’d like us to mail your invitations as well, we’ll confirm with our local postal office to verify correct postage costs, apply postage, and drop them off for you.
Services we offer
Somewhere in South Bend, Indiana, in a former dry cleaning factory-turned artists studios, you’ll find our presses turning and our brains storming.
Our studio
Video production by Blaske Studio.
Meet the presses
Kiki
Tabletop Press
Manufactured in mid-1900’s. Weighs approximately 70 lbs. Acquired in 2017 in Illinois.
She’s small. She’s… a little bit mighty. She’s great for teeny tiny printing areas!
Business cards
Coasters
Belly Bands
Betty
Floor Model Platen Press
Manufactured in 1901. Weighs approximately 1,200 lbs. Acquired in 2021 in Wisconsin.
Our number 1 gal! Our trusty steed! We print almost everything on Betty.
Letterpress
Embossing
Die-cutting
Frida
Foil Press
Manufactured in 2023. Weighs approximately 120 lbs. Acquired in 2023 from the UK.
Big Frida, better known as queen diva. She’s all about the Glitz and glamor!
Metallic Foil
Matte Pigment Foil
Embossing
Workshops
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Wholesale
We print our entire line of wholesale letterpress goods in house.
The Letterpress Shop
Shop our line of ready to order and semi-custom letterpress products. Great for gifts or leveling up your stationery game.