You have a lot of options when it comes to your invitations. Depending on your wedding style, there are four basic types of invitation printing to choose from.
*Engraved Invitations
Very formal, elegant, and expensive. This is because the wording is actually etched onto a steel plate which is then inked. Typically you will receive the actual plate used for printing as a keepsake.
Black ink is usually the best color for this style. Fine cotton paper is used with this method because it will readily accept the ink and leaves the letters raised a bit off the paper.
This type of printing is quite a bit more expensive than thermography, so engraving is usually done for ultra-formal wedding invites..
* Thermography
Though less expensive than engraving, thermography yields similar quality. If an invitation looks engraved but the paper behind the printing is smooth, you have thermographed printing.
The key to thermography is in the ink, which contains a special powder. When heated. the ink rises a bit and becomes shiny.
Thermography is one of the most popular printing methods today. It is great for formal looking wedding invitations, and colored inks.
* Lithography
Most couples today tend to opt for the offset lithography, because of its cost-effectiveness and speedy delivery times. This type of printing is probably what you're probably most familiar with where an inked impression is made to a plate or a rubber cylinder and transferred to paper. Ink colors are mixed in cans from Pantone or RGB colors for exact matches. The printing appears as a flat image.
This type of printing is most commonly used for textured papers or paper that can't be produced via thermography, or engraving. It is probably the easiest printing method and one of the least expensive printing options.
* Laser Printing
You can use laser printing to create your own invitations. While the lettering will appear crisp, it won't provide the rich raised look of engraving. Laser printers use an electrostatic charge to transfer images onto paper.
*Engraved Invitations
Very formal, elegant, and expensive. This is because the wording is actually etched onto a steel plate which is then inked. Typically you will receive the actual plate used for printing as a keepsake.
Black ink is usually the best color for this style. Fine cotton paper is used with this method because it will readily accept the ink and leaves the letters raised a bit off the paper.
This type of printing is quite a bit more expensive than thermography, so engraving is usually done for ultra-formal wedding invites..
* Thermography
Though less expensive than engraving, thermography yields similar quality. If an invitation looks engraved but the paper behind the printing is smooth, you have thermographed printing.
The key to thermography is in the ink, which contains a special powder. When heated. the ink rises a bit and becomes shiny.
Thermography is one of the most popular printing methods today. It is great for formal looking wedding invitations, and colored inks.
* Lithography
Most couples today tend to opt for the offset lithography, because of its cost-effectiveness and speedy delivery times. This type of printing is probably what you're probably most familiar with where an inked impression is made to a plate or a rubber cylinder and transferred to paper. Ink colors are mixed in cans from Pantone or RGB colors for exact matches. The printing appears as a flat image.
This type of printing is most commonly used for textured papers or paper that can't be produced via thermography, or engraving. It is probably the easiest printing method and one of the least expensive printing options.
* Laser Printing
You can use laser printing to create your own invitations. While the lettering will appear crisp, it won't provide the rich raised look of engraving. Laser printers use an electrostatic charge to transfer images onto paper.
***Recommended online sites for Wedding Invitations***
Paper Source Wedding Invitation Collection
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