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Personalize & Enhance
Learn more about how to personalize and enhance your invitation designs.
PRINTING METHODS
ENGRAVED, LETTERPRESS AND FOIL PRINTED invitations are the ultimate in refinement and quality. All 3 require a metal die plate be made of the wedding invitation wording. Simply stated, the plate is inked and pressed onto the paper. The indentation gives a three-dimensional look and feel, which is much sought after. Due to the complexities and craftsmanship involved, there is an increased associated cost to these print processes.
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THERMOGRAPHY is a printing technique in which a wet ink image is fused by heat or infrared radiation with a resinous powder to produce a raised impression. This gives a crisp edge to the printing and is a reasonable alternative to the more costly processes requiring a die plate.
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DIGITAL PRINTING is a modern method of production that makes prints from electronic files. Your artwork is created on a computer and then printed directly onto the stock of your choice. It eliminates many of the mechanical steps required for conventional printing, such as making plates. The colors show up perfectly, as well as detail. The image is one-dimensional, flat. This is the least costly printing method and is frequently used for specific parts of an invitation package.
THE KIND OF CARDSTOCK FINISHES CHOSEN
Your card base can be matte or shimmery. This is a personal preference. Generally, the more luxurious stationery uses matte cardstock. Shimmery cardstock comes in more limited weight and may need to be laminated with additional layers to achieve a heavier weight.
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Truly luxurious stationery feels substantial. It is both weighty and tactile. Card weight is measured in GSM. The higher the GSM, the heavier the paper. Stationery will be printed on cards weighted from between 210gsm to 900gsm - in short from thin cards, to one that will stand under its own weight. Alternatively, cardstock can be referred to in pounds, from 120–220-pound weight.
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Why does the weight of the card matter? Printing methods, like die stamping for engraving, letterpress or foil, require a thick card, in order to maximize the effect of the texture to the wording these methods apply.
ADDING LAYERS OF CARDSTOCK
When layering is desirable, mixing cardstock textures, and revealing different widths of the base layer(s), gives a frame to the invitation and highlights the colors of the invitation suite.
ARTWORK
Using an image of the venue on one of the stationery items, such as the envelope liner or an enclosure card, can be a lovely way of presenting the location to your guests.
Hand-painted artwork can become the theme which flows throughout the invitation suite.
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Photos of the couple or person being honored will make your guests smile!
WORDING
Unique fonts and layouts can be anything the imagination conjures, from monograms to embellished names, to foreign languages and logos. Some printers offer proprietary fonts, similar to hand-calligraphy.
LUXURY ITEMS
Beveled, foil or painted edges on the invitation marry a design together with the colors of the suite.
Lining the envelopes with digital or foil-printed patterns embellishes and personalizes a classic invitation.
Colored envelopes get instant attention when they arrive in the mail.
Adding Ribbons, Vellum wraps and wax seals complete your presentation in style.
ADDRESSING
Addressing the invitations can be done by a hand-calligrapher. Prices range from $2-$5 per envelope. The look of hand-calligraphy is unique, applying pen and ink to the envelope by hand. It is the best option for a more formal, luxurious look. Metallic inks are an option. Extra envelopes must be ordered if a hand-calligrapher is used.
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Digital, or computer, addressing is a less costly alternative. The fonts used on the invitation can be matched and the process is more error-free, so additional envelopes are not usually required. However, particularly heavy envelopes would not qualify for this method.
