Did You Know?

Letterpress!

If you've ever gone to have any sort of bespoke stationery done, we're sure you've heard of Letterpress. Its undoubted popularity in the printing world means its name is often thrown around many print enthusiasts who simply adore this printing method. You're probably wondering, what's so special about it? What is its appeal? We're here to tell you!

What is Letterpress? Letterpress is a form of relief printing in which raised surfaces covered with ink are pressed onto paper. In simple terms, it’s essentially a stamp that creates an impression on the paper.

Let's go through a quick history lesson for Letterpress. When it was first invented in the 1500s, it was quite common due to the fact that it was one of the only printing methods around at the time that was relatively low-cost. It remained widely-used until the beginning of the Digital Age, resulting in Letterpress becoming “outdated” towards the end of the 20th century.

However, in recent years, Letterpress has made a fantastic comeback. Instead of being called 'old-fashioned', it is now referred to as 'vintage' or 'bespoke'. This return of popularity could be attributed to the general public's consumer preferences changing to something less manufactured and generic, and more towards a customised approach for different types of stationery. Fortunately, Letterpress ticked all the right boxes and is now in the spotlight again.

So, what is its appeal? Letterpress is often associated with terms such as 'elegant' or 'high quality', and its no wonder why. This perception can be attributed to the fact that the impression gives a two dimensional card dynamism and depth. One of Letterpress' biggest charms is the tactile and visual impression it leaves on the paper. The haptic feedback given is subtle yet unmistakable, subconsciously appealing to the human's need for tactile perception. You can’t help but to want to run your fingers over it.

Despite its numerous aesthetic benefits, Letterpress does have its limitations. Namely, the paper thickness. The paper needs to be thick enough for the printing method's full potential to shine. The best papers to use to accentuate the letterpress in paper are papers that have both bulk (thickness) and a natural texture.

Interested in using Letterpress in your future printed works? Contact us through our website for any enquiries! For additional Letterpress love and inspiration, follow our Instagram page (instagram.com/pyprstudio).

Next on our series, is Embossing (and Debossing)!

Embossing is a fan favourite of print aficionados. The way that it elevates a particular design on printed materials remains unbeatable in our books. Debossing is a cousin to Embossing, similar in their processes but provide opposite results.

Embossing is the process of pressing a die (aka a personalised metal stamp) into paper or cardstock to create a 3D design. It results in a raised surface, with the design higher than the surrounding paper area. On the other hand, Debossing is essentially the opposite of its counterpart - it results in a depressed surface, with the design lower than the surrounding paper area.

It's no surprise as to why these printing methods is so popular. This popular print method provides your final product with a fascinating, modern look. The impressed design is almost an optical illusion, due to the fact that you can see and feel real depth on a flat surface. Running your fingers over said design gives an unexplainable satisfying feeling.

While vanilla Embossing and Debossing are already plenty enough in giving head turners, pairing them with other specialised printing methods such as foil stamping or adding ink, grants your printed work the ability to transform from fine to phenomenal!

These printing methods have auras of professionalism and elegance, so they are most often seen on business stationery. From company folders to event invitations, the duo are responsible for raising their wow factor. The most common way these printing methods are used, is for highlighting key elements of a brand, such as company logos or initials. Different elevations on a flat piece of paper catches eyes easily, hence using it to print components that you want to be seen is a smart strategy.

Interested in using Embossing or Debossing in your future printed works? Contact us through our website for any enquiries! For additional Letterpress love and inspiration, follow our Instagram page (instagram.com/pyprstudio).

Offset printing! Offset printing has been around for more than a century, and for most of that period, it was the prized method of printing all things commercial. That includes brochures, flyers and other advertisements. Often hailed to be a method of superior printing quality, let's dive into what is offset printing!

Also known as offset lithography, offset printing is a method that involves personalised metal plates that apply ink onto a sheet of paper. Each sheet in a particular job has its own personalised metal plate. To condense a complex process, these personalised metal plates transfer an image onto a rubber 'blanket', with said 'blanket' rolling the image onto a sheet of paper thereafter. Offset's name came about because the ink in question is not transferred directly onto the paper.

Due to its complex process, the setup for offset printing is generally time consuming, in turn increasing its general cost. However, once they're set up, the offset presses run very efficiently.

Offset printing can use both CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key) or Pantone! This is particularly important for large corporate brands where colour consistency is crucial for the brand's image.

Offset printing offers the highest possible printing quality, providing accurate colour reproduction and great detail. Offset is reliable in the sense that your images will be clean and distinct, without any streaks or imperfections. Offset works equally well on almost any kind of material as well, including plastic.

Offset printing is for you if you have a high volume job. As a result of its high setup cost, it would be expensive and a waste of money to use it on a small printing job. This is why offset printing is the most commonly used method for high volume commercial jobs, such as magazines and newspapers.

Interested in using offset printing in your future printed works? Contact us through our website for any enquiries! For additional Letterpress love and inspiration, follow our Instagram page (instagram.com/pyprstudio).

What is Foil Stamping? Foil Stamping is a printing method that instantly provides a touch of luxury to your printed designs. It is extremely popular due to its versatility, suiting all forms of stationery. From wedding to business stationery, Foil Stamping is perennial and well-loved in the printing world.

So, how did it come about? Some of the very first manuscripts of 'Foil Stamping' ever produced used real 24k gold leaf to decorate calligraphy. As a result of its exorbitant price tag, it was exclusively reserved for the rich. Today, however, with advancements in technology, affordable aluminium foils that emulate gold leaf are readily available to ordinary people like us.

So, what is it? Foil Stamping is the application of metallic print and foil on materials using heat and pressure. Let's go into the process! First, the desired design is etched onto a metal die, which is then heated up. Then, the sheet of foil is placed between the die and the surface of material to be stamped. When the die is applied to the surface, the foil bonds to the surface, producing the metallic effect.

Foils themselves come in a varied range of textures and colours. There are four main categories of foil: metallic foil, pigment foil, pearl foil and holographic foil. The most notably being Metallic foil, with its popular shimmery gold, silver and copper colours. This variety of foils allow for a variety of textures on printed materials such as metallic, matte, glossy, and holographic textures on the medium. Foil Stamping can also be used on different kinds of materials, from paper to acrylic, largely increasing their versatility.

Foil Stamping is used in many products in various industries. Besides regular business stationery, foil is amazing for invitations, promotional materials and packaging. Foil instantly adds an aura of elegance, making your printed material more enticing and alluring.

In a nutshell, it is no wonder as to why Foil Stamping is such a well-loved printing method. Interested in using Foil Stamping in your next printing project? Contact us through our website for any enquiries! For additional Foil Stamping love and inspiration, follow our Instagram page (instagram.com/pyprstudio).

Ever wondered what is Die-cutting, and why it seems to be so popular? Read on to find out how this printing method has taken the modern printing world by storm!

First, let's establish what is a 'die'. You've probably heard the term thrown around whenever it comes to printing. Well, a die refers to a thin, sharp steel blade that has been formed into a specific shape or pattern. In simple terms, it's a heavy-duty metal cookie-cutter. While most print shops have a selection of standard dies readily available (for common shapes), custom dies must be created for unique and specific designs.

So, what is die-cutting exactly? Well, it refers to the process of using a die to cut paper materials, such as cards or labels into various shapes. Die-cutting is usually an automated operation. It is carried out through a machine that can mass produce large quantities of a same design,. This means that the your desired final product can be reproduced effieciently and consistently. creating an efficient process with consistent results.

Due to the customisation possibilities when it comes to a die, Die-cutting is extremely versatile, wearing many hats. Here at our print studio, we've seen so many creative and inspiring ideas that our clients have brought forward to us. From using a die to shape the entire outline of a card to only shaping a particular edge that fits the design. Die-cutting can also cut out a shape within the center of a piece, increasing its flexibility to create the design you want.

Die-cutting provides a singular and inimitable route to creating exceptional printed works, be it for business stationery, promotional materials or even packaging. The distinct, differing shapes upgrades the material's overall visual appeal to the untrained and trained eye.

All in all, Die-cutting is amazing for upping the charisma of your printed work. With its flexible functions, you'll find a way to implement this multifaceted printing method. Interested in using Die-cutting in your next printing project? Contact us through our website for any enquiries! For additional Die-cutting love and inspiration, follow our Instagram page (instagram.com/pyprstudio).

Edge Gilding has been the craze these days in the printing industry. There's just something about those gleaming edges that people cannot get enough of. In general, utilising cards' edges have always been popular, due to the fact that decorating that additional dimension easily adds more pizzazz and personality to any given card. Combine that with foil (which in itself has great versatility and visual appeal), and you have the recipe for a picture perfect card.

So, what is Edge Gilding? Edge Gilding is the process of applying a metallic foil to the outer edges of substrate, such as cards or books. The popular colour choices for said foil are gold and silver.

Likely originating from Europe, evidence of gilded edges were found on books as early as the 15th century. While beautiful, gilded edges were multi-purpose - they did not only provide a striking and luxurious appearance. The purpose of gilding was primarily protective, as the finish prevented pollutants such as dust from penetrating the pages. Moreover, it made cleaning easier too. Today, however, gilding is done to lend an air of luxurious sophistication to stationery and is especially popular for personal calling cards and event invitations.

To the untrained eye, creating foiled edges might seem like a difficult task, having to apply those delicate pieces of foil to each thin edge of cardstock. However, making those beautiful edges is relatively easier than that. First, a pre-cut stack of paper has its edges carefully sanded down to create an extremely flat and even finish. This plane finish is vital in creating the ideal surface for Edge Gilding. Next, a specialized rolling machine is used, to press extremely thin layers of metal foil against the cardstock edge with a heated roller under high pressure. This leads to the foil sticking firmly to the edge of each individual page or card, resulting in each edge having their own beautiful foiled finish.

Edge Gilding is an impeccable printing method that instantly elevates your printed work, and its widespread popularity is truly no surprise. Interested in using Edge Gilding in your next printing project? Contact us through our website for any enquiries! For additional Edge Gilding love and inspiration, follow our Instagram page (instagram.com/pyprstudio).

What is Thermography printing?

Also known as Thermographic printing, Thermography printing is a popular printing method that is often used on all kinds of paper stationery. It's glossy, smooth and raised appearance appeals to all kinds of stationery, from wedding stationery to business stationery. Stationers around the world can count on Thermography printing to make their final product look classy and professional. This quality makes it perfect for highlighting special elements on a particular piece of stationery. For this reason, it is typically used on specific elements, such as titles, names, logos or letterheads.

Let's take a step back in time. As a result of few records being kept when Thermography printing was in its early developmental stages, there is little known about the first developments with this type of printing. However, it is known that another similar method, thermal printing or raised printing, dates back to the early 20th century. It is said that it was roughly developed in approximately 1905.

So, how does it work? The process starts with a card is printed, typically with offset printing ink. While the ink is still wet, powdered resin is sprinkled onto it. The card is then exposed to high heat, baking the resin. The resin and ink fuses together, creating raised and textured lettering. This resin is usually clear and colourless so that the raised area takes the colour of the printed ink. However, for special projects that require for it, different coloured powder are also available: white, gold, silver, copper and even glow-in-the-dark.

Thermography printing is popular because of its raised effect. In the printing world, methods that provide a level of depth to a flat piece of paper is always all the rage (see Letterpress, Embossing). There's just something about that extra dimension that people adore. Another factor that contributes to its fame is its cost, because it is relatively inexpensive. When compared to other methods that can achieve a similar effect, such as Embossing or Engraving, Thermography printing is more affordable.

All in all, Thermography printing is a well-rounded printing method that truly deserves its fame. Interested in using it in your future printed works? Contact us through our website for any enquiries! For prints inspiration, follow our Instagram page (instagram.com/pyprstudio).