How to: Typesetting tips
How to: Typesetting tips
How to: Typesetting tips
How to: Design for two sided printing
How to: Crops, bleeds and rego marks
How to: Supply a letterpress ready PDF
How to: Create a blind stamp colour
How to: Create spot colours
Contemporary letterpress printing is a careful blend of ink, pressure and paper mixed with a generous helping of skill. The unique printed result remains sought after for its hand-made appeal and wonderful aura of quality.
Letterpress is a form of printing called relief printing, and is the oldest method of printing known to mankind. Printing this way, in the sense of impressing an inked surface with another material, dates back to A.D. 175 courtesy of the Chinese, who are also credited with inventing paper 75 years earlier. Over the centuries, printing spread throughout Asia to Japan, Korea, Turkey and eventually Europe.
From this early period until the middle of the 15th century, the actual process remained the same. Blocks of wood or stone were cut away with tools leaving a raised image, which was then inked. The surrounding areas, which were lower, did not receive ink. Paper was laid on the inked image and pressure applied by rubbing bamboo, bone or a dry brush to the back of the sheet. The inked image was transferred directly to paper.
We generally think of printing as a European invention and that’s because of one man – Johannes Gutenberg. In 1450 Gutenberg changed everything. Foremost, he invented a way of creating movable type by casting individual letters in hot metal, removing the need to carve whole pages out of wooden blocks. But he also invented oil based printing ink and most importantly – the printing press. His main client in those days was the Church. During this period the Church employed scribes to hand write and illustrate each page, called illumination. Importantly, there was generally only one copy of each book. The printing press meant that pages could now be duplicated easily.
The printing press and its associated industries undertook a lot of changes and development over the next few centuries in order to achieve greater production speeds. By the late 1960s and early 1970s letterpress was discarded by the printing industry in favour of offset lithography, which together with various forms of digital printing, are now the major printing techniques used today for the production of most printed materials.
Today, letterpress is generally considered a craft. It is no longer taught as a major component to printing trade apprentices (printing machinists). Its skills and techniques have been largely passed on by an older generation to a new generation of printers willing to explore the unique possibilities available using a combination of old and new technology in the pursuit of beautiful printing.
The Artisan Press’ Wayne Davis completed his printing apprenticeship in the last trade years of letterpress, under the watchful eyes of both a Dutch and an English Master Printer. Now privileged information, Wayne uses these traditional techniques combined with techniques he’s developed since 1999 to push the boundaries of what is possible with ink, paper and pressure.
Package suites
These days with so many different family situations, wedding stationery wording can be complicated. Below are several save the date, engagement, wedding, RSVP and thank you wording samples which may help you in the creation of your stationery wording. Keep in mind unless you are seeking a formal style invitation there are no hard and fast rules.
Save the date card
From bride and groom for a special destination wedding
Engagement invitation
From bride and groom with parents
From both parents of the bride and groom
Wedding invitation
Hosted by bride and groom’s parents
Hosted by bride and groom with parents
Hosted by bride’s divorced and remarried parents
Hosted by bride’s widowed mother or father
Hosted by brides remarried mother and husband
Hosted by brides divorced mother (not remarried)
Hosted by bride’s parents separated (still share surname)
Hosted by bride’s parents, mother divorced & remarried
Hosted by bride’s parents divorced, mother absent / father remarried
Hosted by bride’s parents divorced, father absent / mother remarried
Hosted by bride’s mother widowed (not remarried)
Hosted by groom’s parents / bride’s parents absent
Hosted by bride and groom wedding at friend’s house
Hosted by bride and groom reception at friend’s house
SAVE THE DATE CARDS
From bride and groom to be
Please save the date of Saturday 15th November 2013 for our wedding Invitation and details to follow Jennifer and Matthew |
Save the date! Jennifer and Matthew will be getting married on Saturday 15th November 2013 St Andrews Church, Manly Formal invitation to follow |
Please save the date We will be getting married on Saturday 15th November 2013 St Andrews Church, Manly Invitation and details to follow Jennifer and Matthew |
Save the date! Jennifer and Matthew will be getting married on Saturday 15th November 2013 St Andrews Church, Manly Formal invitation to follow |
From bride and groom to be for a special destination wedding
Save the date! Join us for the weekend wedding of Jennifer and Matthew The festivities begin on Friday 14th November 2013 Accommodation has been organised at Please call 0754 446 1789 Jennifer and Matthew’s wedding party Looking forward to seeing you there Jennifer and Matthew |
ENGAGEMENT INVITATION CARDS
From bride and groom
Jennifer Kingston and Matthew Williams request the pleasure of your company on Saturday 15th September 2013 The Wentworth Hotel RSVP: 30th August 2013 Phone: (02) 9997 1340 |
From both parents of the bride and groom
Mr and Mrs Christopher Kingston _______________________________ to celebrate the engagement of their children on Saturday 15th September 2013 The Wentworth Hotel RSVP: 30th August 2013 Dress: Lounge suit
|
From bride and groom with parents
Together with their parents Jennifer Kingston and Matthew Williams request the pleasure of your company on Saturday 15th September 2013 The Wentworth Hotel RSVP: 30th August 2013 Dress: Lounge suit
|
WEDDING INVITATION WORDING
Hosted by bride’s parents
Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Kingston at the marriage of their daughter Mr. Matthew John Williams RSVP: 30th August 2013 Dress: Lounge suit |
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Kingston invite to share in the joy on Saturday, Sixteenth of July RSVP: 30th August 2013 Dress: Lounge suit |
Christopher and Mary Kingston _______________________________ to share in the on Saturday 15th November 2013 RSVP: 30th August 2013 Dress: Lounge suit |
Hosted by groom’s parents.
Mr and Mrs Gary Williams _______________________________ at the marriage of and reception afterwards at RSVP: 30th August 2013 Dress: Lounge suit |
Mr. and Mrs. Gary Williams presence at the marriage of The Manly Pacific Hotel RSVP: 30th August 2013 Dress: Lounge suit |
Hosted by bride and groom
The honourof presence is requested at the marriage of to |
_______________________________ The pleasure of your company is requested at St Andrews Church, Manly RSVP: 30th August 2013 Dress: Lounge suit |
Jennifer Elizabeth Kingston _______________________________ to share in their joy The Manly Pacific Hotel RSVP: 30th August 2013 Dress: Lounge suit |
Jennifer Elizabeth Kingston on Saturday, November Fifteenth please join us for a husband and wife RSVP: 30th August 2013 Dress: Lounge suit |
Jennifer Elizabeth Kingston to share in their love The Manly Pacific Hotel RSVP: 30th August 2013 Dress: Lounge suit |
Hosted by bride and groom’s parents
Mr and Mrs Christopher Kingston to celebrate the marriage of their children The Manly Pacific Hotel RSVP: 30th August 2013 Dress: Lounge suit |
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Kingston presence at the marriage of their children The Manly Pacific Hotel RSVP: 30th August 2013 Dress: Lounge suit |
Hosted by bride and groom with parents
Together with their parents _______________________________ at their marriage RSVP: 30th August 2013 Dress: Lounge suit |
Together with their families at their marriage Two Thousand and Ten RSVP: 30th August 2013 Dress: Lounge suit |
Together with their parents and to share in their love at St Andrews Church, Manly RSVP: 30th August 2013 Dress: Lounge suit |
Hosted by bride’s divorced and remarried parents
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Michael Kingston and presence Mr. Matthew John Williams On Saturday, the sixteenth of July and reception afterwards at RSVP: 30th August 2013 Dress: Lounge suit |
Hosted by bride’s widowed mother or father
Mr./Mrs. Christopher Michael Kingston presence Mr. Matthew John Williams RSVP: 30th August 2013 Dress: Lounge suit |
Hosted by brides remarried mother and husband
Mr. and Mrs. Ian Taylor request the honourof presence Two Thousand and Ten RSVP: 30th August 2013 Dress: Lounge suit |
Hosted by brides divorced mother (not remarried)
Mother uses a combination of her maiden and married name.
Ms. Jane Reid Kingston (maiden and married surnames) request the pleasure of your company Jennifer Elizabeth Kingston to On Saturday, Fifteenth of November and reception afterwards at RSVP: 30th August 2013 Dress: Lounge suit |
Hosted by bride’s parents separated (still share surname)
Mr. Christopher Kingston request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Jennifer Elizabeth at St Andrews Church, Manly and reception afterwards at at 6.00pm RSVP: 30th August 2013 Dress: Lounge suit |
Hosted by bride’s parents, mother divorced & remarried.
Brides mother uses her present husband’s name.
Mr. Christopher Kingston at the marriage of their daughter Jennifer Elizabeth Kingston at St Andrews Church, Manly and reception afterwards at at 6.00pm RSVP: 30th August 2013 Dress: Lounge suit |
Hosted by bride’s parents divorced, mother absent / father remarried
Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Kingston Jennifer Elizabeth to at St Andrews Church, Manly RSVP: 30th August 2013 Dress: Lounge suit |
Hosted by bride’s parents divorced, father absent / mother remarried
Mr. & Mrs. Ian Taylor
Jennifer Elizabeth Kingston to at St Andrews Church, Manly and reception afterwards at RSVP: 30th August 2013 Dress: Lounge suit |
Hosted by bride’s mother widowed (not remarried)
Mrs. Christopher Kingston Jennifer Elizabeth
at St Andrews Church, Manly and reception afterwards at RSVP: 30th August 2013 Dress: Lounge suit |
Hosted by groom’s parents / bride’s parents absent
Mr. & Mrs. Gary Williams request the pleasure of Matthew John at St Andrews Church, Manly on Saturday 15th November 2013 and reception afterwards at RSVP: 30th August 2013 Dress: Lounge suit |
Hosted by bride and groom with wedding at friend’s house
The pleasure of the company of is requested at the marriage of Miss Jennifer Elizabeth Kingston on Saturday, fifteenth of June at the residence of Eighteen Nelson Street RSVP: 30th August 2013 Dress: Lounge suit |
Hosted by bride and groom reception at friend’s house
_______________________________ please join family and friends Jennifer Kingston and Matthew Williams Saturday, sixteenth of July St Leo’s Church, 40 Nelson Street Reception to follow RSVP: 30th August 2013 Dress: Lounge suit |
RSVP Card
Please respond by 20th October 2013 ______ Accepts with pleasure Names: ______________________ |
The favor of a reply is requested by June 16, 2013. M__________________________ ____Accepts with pleasure ____Declines with regrets |
We look forward to celebrating with you. Please reply by June 16, 2013 M___________________________ ____ accepts _____ regrets
|
We will be glad to have your presence Please respond on or before April 20, 2013 I/We cannot attend _____ I/We will attend _______ Number of guests_____ Names______________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ |
We request the pleasure of your company at the wedding celebration for Jennifer and Matthew Please RSVP by August 18, 2013 Name __________________________ Number Attending : Adults ____ Children _____ Seafood____ Vegetarian____ Not able to attend___ |
The favor of a reply Is requested by August 14, 2013 M___________________________ Will attend_____ Will not attend_____ Please indicate your meal choices: Chicken ____ Vegetarian ____ |
The favor of a reply Is requested by August 14, 2013 M___________________________ Will attend_____ Will not attend_____
Special dietary requirements: ___________________________ |
THANK YOU CARDS
Your presence at our wedding has added Your gift has brought us joy and will help us Jennifer and Matthew Williams |
Thank you for sharing our happiness.
Jennifer and Matthew Williams |
Our sincerest thanks Jennifer and Matthew Williams |
You brought joy to our day warmth to our lives and happiness to our hearts.
Thank you for your thoughtful gift!
Jennifer and Matthew Williams |