Types of Printing - Letterpress Printing
According to Wikipedia "Letterpress printing is a technique of relief printing using a printing press".
Letterpress was invented in the 15th century and many people today think of Letterpress printing an "outdated process".
Fortunately a growing community of art enthusiasts and hobbyists are bringing this craftsmanship back to life. The process requires a high degree of craftsmanship and skill, and the results are stunning.
The process: In a gist, what happens during letterpress printing is basically called relief printing. It involves arranging movable types into a caddy, which were then arranged in reverse and locked into a chase to come up with the right spacing for the characters. These types have raised surface, which are inked and then repeatedly impressed against sheets or roll of paper.
Commonly used for: You probably have seen a lot of this for wedding invitations and business cards. Along with the evolution of letterpress technology, specialized papers were also invented to better suit the pressure from letterpress.
Why letterpress? The allure of letterpress lies in the tangible and tactile results that come out in every print. It reflects craftsmanship at its best, done after much thought, design and time put into it, thanks to the collaboration of artisans and designers who revived the vintage look. Most consider letterpress as more high quality than other techniques, and you see the design unfold right before your eyes, knowing and seeing how each part of the machine to print it out. Check the images below and see some examples of letterpress printing.
Letterpress Printing Examples
