One-Two Printing Punch

Ever since last spring when Allie Hasson and I created these colorful write-in party invitations, I've been jazzed about combining digital and letterpress for paper goodies of all kinds.

In fact, my 2018 Christmas card collection also boasted both forms of printing, and I was so pleased with the design flexibility this allowed. I love being able to offer photo printing directly on the paper along with more colorful designs—all in combination with the crisp, clean effect of letterpress printing.

Come On, Baby!

Another goal for this year is to launch a small collection of semi-custom birth announcements that will provide that same effect: your precious baby photos + deep, textured detail work. You don’t have to choose between the two!

Image c/o The Good Stuff

I got the chance to test this method out with a beautiful design by Katie Beth Owens of The Good Stuff late last year. Not only did this sweet design feature a picture of the family's newest addition on front, we were able to include a second photo of the whole family on the double-thick card backside. This is just one of the benefits of combining printing methods, and I love the extra layer of personalization that it allows.

Another benefit of designing this way is that it allows for a flood of color (see photo below). This means that we can digitally print an entire area with color—something that’s not well-suited for letterpress, which typically really shines with fine lines (ie: text).

Image c/o The Good Stuff

Lastly, I really love the option of designing with more COLOR. Letterpress is a time intensive process, and each color of a design requires a separate run through the press. My first business card design was 4-color. After printing my first set of cards, I did a slight redesign to make sure I never had to do that again ;) The result is beautiful, but it’s a labor of love.

Printing digitally provides another way to add dimension to artwork without having to print separate layers of color. As you can see in the image below, it also allows for different kinds of imagery (ie: watercolor) that aren’t suitable for the letterpress method.

As I’m designing my line of semi-custom announcements, I’d love to hear if there are any other things you’d like to see in the collection. Feel free to contact me here or leave a comment below!