The Classic Beauty of Engraved Wedding Invitations http://ping.fm/QTtH4 Only a few printing methods can match the caliber of an engraved wedding invitation. Though engraving was customarily utilized create wedding stationery, birth announcements and business cards in your parent’s and grandparent’s generations, present day printing processes are certainly more productive but do not have the level of quality and vigor of engraving.

Lately, the leading stationery retail stores throughout the United States report that engaged couples are now rediscovering the inherent beauty of engraving. Despite its higher cost, engraved wedding invitations speak to the traditions and elegance times past.

Because the printing industry has moved to less expensive and much more productive forms of printing, quite a few engraving firms have shut down and the profession of engraving is perilously near to disappearing. Although the sturdy Heidelberg presses exist in abundance, the production of metal engraving dies from submerging light-sensitive copper plates in a tub of an acid solution is beyond the financial abilities and knowledge of the many autonomous printers.

With its opaque colors and distinctive three-dimensional print quality, engraved wedding invitations are experiencing a renaissance among engaged couples who value a well-crafted wedding invitation. Amongst the key firms that provide different types of printing methods, Crane & Co. and William Arthur deliver the best design and printing options.

If an engraved invitation is beyond your budget, go for printing in thermograph inks. Using thermograph inks mimics engraving by stamping a resin-based blend on the paper to produce the raised surface you find in engraving. Thermograph inks are generally more shiny unless the printer provides a matte finish, but printing using this technique will produce great cost savings.

Like all fine stationery, engraved invitations should be seen in person to appreciate paper and print quality. Ink colors are “true” and deeper, particularly when compared side-by-side along with other types of printing. In all likelihood, there are knowledgeable stationers in cities across the United States who are able to offer you guidance in helping to design wonderful wedding invitations.

Richard W. May, a founding member of the Stationers Guild, writes frequently about NYC wedding invitations and wedding invitation trends across the United States.

The Timeless Wonder of Engraved Wedding Invitations http://ping.fm/xHgRf Few printing methods can match up with the caliber of an engraved wedding invitation. Though engraving was historically utilized print wedding stationery, birth announcements and business stationery in your parent’s and grandparent’s generations, present day printing methods are generally more productive but don’t have the level of quality and vigor of engraving.

Most recently, the leading stationery retail stores throughout the US are convinced that wedding couples are now rediscovering the inherent beauty of engraving. Despite its higher cost, engraved invitations speak to the traditions and magnificence times past.

As the printing industry has moved to less costly and more productive types of printing, numerous engraving firms have closed down and the profession of engraving is perilously near disappearing. Although the robust Heidelberg presses exist in abundance, the production of engraving dies from submerging light-sensitive copper plates in a bath of acid is beyond the financial capabilities and knowledge of the many autonomous printers.

With its opaque colors and eye-catching raised print quality, engraved wedding invitations are experiencing a renaissance among engaged couples who value a well-crafted wedding invitation. Among the top firms which provide various printing options, Crane & Co. and William Arthur provide the best printing and design alternatives.

If the engraved wedding invitation is out of your reach, choose printing in thermograph inks. Using thermograph inks mimics engraving by imprinting a resin-based composite on the paper to make the raised surface which you find in engraving. Thermograph inks usually are more shiny unless of course the printer supplies a matte finish, but printing with this method offers great savings.

Like most fine stationery, engraved invitations are best seen in person to appreciate the print quality. Colors are “true” and deeper, particularly if evaluated side-by-side along with other types of printing. In all probability, there are experienced stationers in neighborhoods across the United States who are able to deliver guidance in helping to design stunning wedding invitations.

Richard W. May, a founding member of the Stationers Guild, writes frequently about NYC wedding invitations and wedding invitation trends across the United States.

See Stacy Claire Boyd’s 2011 holiday photo cards http://bit.ly/qH0OLX As a stationery store owner, I am regularly quizzed by our customers whether they should choose digital photo cards this Christmas season. Almost all of these clients have typically used photomount Christmas greeting cards to share family photos.

This is a tough query to answer, because it depends on your goals. Digital Christmas photo greeting cards are certainly more straightforward, even though the color printing of digitally printed holiday photo cards is not as highly detailed as regular photographs. While great progress has been produced in upgrading the quality of digital publishing, one really should be cautious in determining the printing company and the style and design choices.

One designer that has a long background of attractive styles is Stacy Claire Boyd. Stacy has long been making attractive holiday photo greeting card themes for quite some time. She fairly recently teamed up with Printswell, a well-known printer, and now has the facility of producing high quality photo cards at fair prices.

Stacy Claire’s 2011 holiday card selection features her customary focus on young families and young ones. Stacy’s styles and designs often catch the joy and happiness of a care free childhood and her Xmas photo cards are a great favorite among our buyers. Pick from a range of card dimensions and orientation with multiple or a single photograph of your family.

If you choose that digital photo card printing is the right choice for you this holiday season, please look at Stacy’s trendy Christmas photo card styles. Prices for Stacy’s photo cards vary from $2.50 to $4.00 a card depending on the number of photo cards you choose to buy and the printing or design selections.

Richard W. May
Founding Member Stationers Guild

The Classic Appeal of Engraved Wedding Invitations http://ping.fm/zPwW8 Very few printing methods can match up with the quality of an engraved wedding invitation. Though engraving was historically utilized to create wedding invitations, baby announcements and business cards in your parent’s and grandparent’s generations, present day printing processes are much more efficient but don’t have the high quality and vivacity of engraving.

Most recently, leading stationery stores around the United States are finding that wedding couples are rediscovering the innate beauty of engraving. Notwithstanding its higher cost, engraved invitations speak to the heritage and elegance times past.

Because the industry has adopted cheaper and more productive forms of printing, many engraving firms have closed down and the profession of engraving is perilously close to disappearing. While the robust Heidelberg printing presses exist in abundance, the fabrication of engraving dies from submerging light-sensitive copper plates in to a tub of acid is beyond the financial capabilities and expertise of the many autonomous printers.

With its “true” colours and exceptional raised print quality, engraved wedding invitations are experiencing a renaissance among engaged couples who value a well-crafted invitation. Amongst the key firms which offer a variety of printing methods, Crane & Co. and William Arthur provide the best printing and design choices.

If the engraved invitation is out of your reach, go for printing in thermograph inks. By using thermograph inks mimics engraving by imprinting a resin-based blend on the paper to form the raised surface you get in engraving. Thermograph inks are generally shinier unless the printer offers a matte finish, but printing with this particular approach will provide great cost savings.

As with any fine stationery, engraved invitations should be seen in person to appreciate paper and print quality. Ink colors are “true” and richer, particularly when evaluated side-by-side with other forms of printing. In all likelihood, you can find knowledgeable stationers in neighborhoods across the United States that can deliver assistance in helping to design stunning wedding invitations.

Richard W. May, a founding member of the Stationers Guild, writes frequently about NYC wedding invitations and wedding invitation trends across the United States.

Letterpress or Engraved Wedding Stationery Reflect Local Variations http://ping.fm/oC736 Those determined to design a unique wedding invitation to commemorate that happy event usually look at hundreds of wedding invitation samples and printing options before selecting their particular invite.

Previously there was a distinct regional bias in the choice of printing. Bridal couples on the West Coast seemed to prefer letterpress and those on the East Coast generally opted for engraving.

While this regional bias still remains, the two printing methods continue to attract discerning wedding couples who take pleasure in the delicate hues and new designs of letterpress printing and also the timeless opaque colors of engraved invitations.

The growth in letterpress wedding invites has been powered from the appearance of skilled artists who are able to acquire cost-effective presses to produce their own invitations and fine stationery. A serviceable press can be acquired for somewhere between $3,000 and $5,000 and a gifted designer using Photoshop can produce stunning designs then transfer those designs to polymer dies that are utilized in the presses.

Engraving is actually a comparable printing process, but metal dies are made by emerging light-sensitive coated copper die plates into an acid bath to create the dies. Both engraving and letterpress tend to be more costly as each invitation is hand-fed through the press. Because every ink color is applied individually, the quantity of colors in the wedding invitation will increase labor costs and, therefore, the overall cost of an invitation.

Although letterpress and engraved wedding invitations are usually the most memorable, those on a financial budget typically seek less expensive options that mimic the creativeness found in letterpress and engraved invites. The application of thermographic inks is definitely an affordable substitute to engraving and even a few flat-printed designs are attractive and capture the importance of the occasion.

Dealing with a highly skilled stationer in your area is certainly the easiest way to craft a wedding invitation that suits your expectations and is affordable. There are only a handful of internet wedding invitation printers who have the design and style and printing capabilities and, above all, the service quality to produce wedding invitations that would make you pleased.

Sheila May is the owner of Therese Saint Clair and writes frequently about wedding invitations and save the date invitations.

The Subtlety of Letterpress Wedding Invitations http://ping.fm/yiRQP The emergence of letterpress invitations, letterpress save-the-date cards, birth announcements and letterpress stationery over the last decade isn’t surprising. Inexpensive second-hand letterpress printers have helped quite a few accomplished designers and artisans to indulge their imagination to create stunning invitations and stationery using this centuries-old printing process.

Similar to the printing process used for engraving, letterpress makes use of polymer or metal dies to “press” ink into malleable card-stock, principally cotton. Each and every color is applied using a separate printing press run, which requires patience and appreciable skill to obtain the close registration needed to properly align colors and image designs.

Each May at the National Stationery Show in New York City, new letterpress firms take center stage introducing their fresh styles. Though letterpress was considered to be somewhat of a novel idea some a few years in the past, the vast majority of new letterpress printers and designers simply do not have the flair, uniqueness and, more often than not, the talent and expertise to create eye-catching letterpress invitations. The truth is, many of the “new” designs provide little that is new. Truth be told, the stationery marketplace is saturated with letterpress.

Letterpress printers with deep traditions in the craft, such as Julie Holcomb, Elum, Oblation, Press New York, Page and Real Card Studio continue to innovate and their sturdy hand and passion for the craft continues to set the standard for letterpress printing.

While a few letterpress printers now sell on the internet, most letterpress artisans offer their product through skilled retailers throughout the United States. In the words of pioneer Julie Holcomb, “If you are like most people, you have never ordered any kind of custom printing prior to ordering your wedding invitations. You can benefit a great deal from the experience of your local stationer, who orders all kinds of custom printing, from many vendors, all the time. They’ll help you make sure you’re covering all the bases and making decisions you’ll be happy with for a long time.”

Julie’s advice is worthwhile following. If you’ve got your heart set on letterpress for your wedding invitations, it is wise to see a highly skilled stationer in your area.

Sheila P. May is the owner of Therese Saint Clair, a stationery store located in Greenwich, CT. A founder of the Stationers Guild, she writes frequently about national and regional trends.

The Understated Elegance of Letterpress Invitations http://ping.fm/AgbcJ The increased popularity of letterpress wedding invitations, letterpress save-the-date announcements, birth announcements and letterpress stationery during the last decade is not unexpected. Inexpensive second-hand letterpress printing presses have helped a lot of gifted designers and artisans to indulge their creativity to create lovely wedding invitations and stationery making use of this centuries-old printing method.

Like the printing process used for engraving, letterpress employs polymer or metal dies to “press” ink into pliable papers, principally cotton. Every color is applied with a individual printing press run, which demands persistence and appreciable skill to obtain the close registration essential to accurately align colors and image designs.

Each May at the National Stationery Show in New York City, new letterpress firms take center stage to market their latest styles. Even though letterpress was thought to be a bit of a novel idea some 5 to 10 years back, most of the recent letterpress printers and designers simply lack the good taste, uniqueness and, more often than not, the skill and expertise to produce eye-catching letterpress wedding invitations. In reality, most “new” designs provide little that is new. Quite frankly, the stationery marketplace is saturated with letterpress.

Letterpress printers with deep traditions within craft, such as Julie Holcomb, Elum, Oblation, Press New York, Page and Real Card Studio still innovate and their sturdy hand and love for the craft continues to raise the bar for letterpress printing.

While some letterpress printers have migrated online, the majority of letterpress artisans market their product by way of skilled retailers throughout the United States. In the words of pioneer Julie Holcomb, “If you are like most people, you have never ordered any kind of custom printing prior to ordering your wedding invitations. You can benefit a great deal from the experience of your local stationer, who orders all kinds of custom printing, from many vendors, all the time. They’ll help you make sure you’re covering all the bases and making decisions you’ll be happy with for a long time.”

Julie’s advice is truly worth following. If you have your heart set on letterpress for the wedding invitations, it is wise to talk to an experienced stationer in your area.

Sheila P. May is the owner of Therese Saint Clair, a stationery store located in Greenwich, CT. A founding member of the stationers guild, she writes frequently about national and regional Wedding Invitation trends.

The Quiet Elegance of Letterpress Wedding Stationery http://ping.fm/VNmJp The increased popularity of letterpress invitations, letterpress save the date announcements, birth announcements and letterpress stationery during the last several years isn’t unexpected. Easily affordable second-hand letterpress printing presses have permitted quite a few skilled designers and artisans to indulge their creative thinking to make lovely announcements and stationery making use of this centuries-old printing process.

Like the printing process utilized in engraving, letterpress uses polymer or metal dies to “press” ink into soft papers, principally cotton. Each and every ink color is applied with a individual printing press run, which demands persistence and appreciable skill to obtain the close registration essential to perfectly align colors and image designs.

Every May at the National Stationery Show in New York City, new letterpress vendors take center stage introducing their new styles. Even though letterpress was considered to be a bit of a novelty some five to ten years back, many of the new letterpress printers and designers simply lack the flair, creativity and, more often than not, the ability and experience to produce pleasing letterpress wedding invitations. The truth is, most of the “new” designs provide little that is unique. To be honest, the stationery market is over loaded with letterpress.

Letterpress printers with deep traditions within profession, such as Julie Holcomb, Elum, Oblation, Press New York, Page and Real Card Studio are able to innovate and their steady hand and passion for the craft continues to elevate the bar for letterpress printing.

Although some letterpress printers now sell online, nearly all letterpress artisans market their product by way of knowledgeable retailers across the United States. In the words of pioneer Julie Holcomb, “If you are like most people, you have never ordered any kind of custom printing prior to ordering your wedding invitations. You can benefit a great deal from the experience of your local stationer, who orders all kinds of custom printing, from many vendors, all the time. They’ll help you make sure you’re covering all the bases and making decisions you’ll be happy with for a long time.”

Julie’s advice is worthwhile following. If you have your heart set on letterpress for your wedding invitations, it is advisable to consult a highly skilled stationer in your town.

Sheila P. May is the owner of Therese Saint Clair, a stationery store located in Greenwich, CT. A founder of the Stationers Guild, she writes frequently about national and regional Wedding Invitation trends.

The Quiet Elegance of Letterpress Wedding Stationery http://ping.fm/BMF7u The emergence of letterpress wedding stationery, letterpress save the date cards, baby announcements and letterpress stationery within the last decade is not surprising. Inexpensive second-hand letterpress printers have helped quite a few gifted designers and artisans to apply their imagination to create stunning invitations and stationery using this very old printing process.

Much like the process used in engraving, letterpress employs polymer or metal dies to “press” ink into soft card-stock, generally cotton. Every color is applied with a separate printing press run, which requires persistence and great skill to get the close registration needed to properly align colors and motif designs.

Each May during the National Stationery Show in New York City, new letterpress firms take center stage to display their fresh styles. Though letterpress was regarded as somewhat of a novel idea some 5 to 10 years ago, most of the recent letterpress printers and designers simply do not have the flair, uniqueness and, more often than not, the skill and knowledge to produce eye-catching letterpress wedding invitations. In reality, most of the “new” designs offer little that’s unique. Quite frankly, the stationery marketplace is over loaded with letterpress.

Letterpress printers with deep traditions in the profession, such as Julie Holcomb, Elum, Oblation, Press New York, Page and Real Card Studio are able to innovate and their steady hand and love for the craft continues to raise the bar for letterpress printing.

While some letterpress printers now sell online, the majority of letterpress artisans offer their stationery by way of seasoned retailers throughout the United States. Quoting pioneer Julie Holcomb, “If you are like most people, you have never ordered any kind of custom printing prior to ordering your wedding invitations. You can benefit a great deal from the experience of your local stationer, who orders all kinds of custom printing, from many vendors, all the time. They’ll help you make sure you’re covering all the bases and making decisions you’ll be happy with for a long time.”

Julie’s advice is well worth following. If you’ve got your heart set on letterpress for your wedding invitations, it is advisable to talk to an experienced stationer in your neighborhood.

Sheila P. May is the owner of Therese Saint Clair, a stationery store located in Greenwich, CT. A native of Texas, she writes frequently NYC Wedding Invitations.

Letterpress or Engraved Invitations Continue to Reflect Local Differences http://ping.fm/8liz0 Those determined to create an original wedding invitation to memorialize that wondrous event often see a huge selection of wedding invitation examples and printing options before deciding on their particular invitation.

In the past there seemed to be a definite local tendency in the choice of printing. Bridal couples on the West Coast tended to prefer letterpress and people on the East Coast generally wanted engraving.

Even though this regional tendency still persists, the two printing methods still attract discerning wedding couples who appreciate the subtle colors and innovative designs of letterpress printing and the timeless opaque colors of engraved invitations.

The increase in letterpress wedding invites have been fueled by the appearance of talented artists that can acquire inexpensive presses to produce their very own invitations and letterpress stationery. A functional press can be purchased for somewhere between $3,000 and $5,000 and a talented designer using Photoshop can make stunning designs and then transfer those designs to polymer dies which are used in the presses.

Engraving is a similar printing process, but metal dies are produced by submerging light-sensitive coated copper die plates into an acid bath to make the dies. Both engraving and letterpress are often more costly given that each wedding invitation is hand-fed through the press. Because each and every ink color is applied separately, the quantity of colors in the wedding invitation will increase labor costs and, therefore, the overall cost of your invitation.

Even though letterpress and engraved invitations are usually the most memorable, those on a budget frequently seek less expensive alternatives that mimic the creativeness present in letterpress and engraved invites. The application of thermographic inks is surely an cost-effective alternative to engraving and even a few flat-printed designs are attractive and capture the significance of the special occasion.

Working with an experienced stationer in your area is undoubtedly the best way to craft a wedding invitation that suits your objectives and is affordable. There are a limited online letterpress wedding invitation printers with design and style and printing capabilities and, above all, the service quality to produce wedding invitations that will make you pleased.

Sheila May is the owner of Therese Saint Clair and writes frequently about wedding invitations and save the date invitations.