Perry Letterpress

Letterpress Services For The Printing Trade
Your Subtitle text

Designing For Letterpress

Ink Color: Files should be created using spot colors, not CMYK or RGB.  A spot color is specified for each color to be used. Typically one or two colors are used.
Paper Color: Dark ink on a light paper gives the best image. Inks are translucent and the paper color will show through.  For light colors on dark paper, we suggest foil stamping as an alternative to inks. 
Screens:   We recommend using a lighter ink color instead of a screen. Screens do not do well with letterpress.
Width of Lines:  Any rules, borders or lines should be  above .25 with no hairlines.  Hairlines do not print well with letterpress.
Fonts: We recommend a font size of 6 points or larger for best results.  For reversed type, the point size should be 12 point or larger, smaller type can fill in. 
Solids: Letterpress solids will print differently from conventionally printed solids.  While letterpress does lay down a thick film of ink, the process tends to show the texture of the sheet.   Also, solid areas do not give the appearance of depth that fine type and thin lines do.  Solid areas can also cause the paper to ripple, especially on thinner sheets.
Registration: Letterpress does register well, however, it does not have the capabilities of modern offset printing presses.  Trapping and key lines do not work well in letterpress printing.  A blank area should be incorporated between colors.  Black and very dark colors may be overprinted over lighter colors.
Depth of Impression:  The type depth is dependent on the paper.  Typically letterpress papers are thick and soft to allow the type to create a deep impression. 
Envelopes: It is best to print on the flap of a ready-made envelope.  Other areas of the ready-made envelopes can be printed, but bruising may occur on the other side of the envelope.

    Website Builder