Advice from the pros: Letterpress invitations by Megan Creates
Filed under: Invitations, Wedding Lore/Traditions
Today we bring you the talented and adorable Megan Carty, letterpress artist and the genius behind Megan Creates and Presslings. We love her beautiful wedding invitations and were thrilled when she agreed to share her knowledge about letterpress (here's her actual press!) and so graciously offered her best tips to Aisledash readers.
How did you get started working in letterpress? Why do you love it?
As a graphic designer, I love everything to do with design and with paper. I love when paper items feel special...like keepsakes you treasure in a scrapbook or box for years to come. Letterpress lends itself to that feeling since it's a process that makes use of special thick cotton papers that feel so luxurious and soft. There is a tactile element to it; the text and images deboss IN to the paper so you can feel the impression. It adds a special touch to an invitation or to stationery. It particularly works well for adding a vintage feel to a design.
I got into letterpress because I was frustrated that I couldn't find anyone to print my wedding invitations at what I considered an affordable price. Of course, I understand now why that is (it's so time consuming and detailed!). I ended up having my own invites offset printed due to budget issues. Anyway, I was tired of coveting the work of all the other letterpress companies out there and decided to get in on the fun. It's so fun to see my designs come to life on the press...to ink the press and rollers by hand, to feed each sheet in one at a time while pushing the treadle with my foot...and see the final result pressed into the page; it's magic!
I enjoy partnering with brides (and moms-to-be or stationery lovers) to make their dream design come to life...printing it is just the icing on the, um, wedding cake.
What should couples keep in mind when designing their letterpress wedding invitations?
Couples need to keep in mind that letterpress is NOT for the budget conscious. I wish that weren't the case!
Here is why that is:
a. Design time: the designer gets paid for the time it takes to concept and execute your invitation (much like you pay a plumber by the hour, a designer works in much the same way...you are paying for their expertise and eye that took years of training to formulate)
b. Plate costs: once the design is complete, the file is sent out for plastic "plates" to be made from the design. Each intended ink color gets its own plate. The fees vary, but I can say the costs START at $45 for a small plate around 8 x 6 inches. I've had most wedding plates total around $75 or so.
c. Cost of paper: Thick cotton paper can run $60 per ream or more. It all depends on the stock that is selected. Wedding invites use lots of paper for the invitation, reply card, and envelopes for reply and outer envelope.
d. Fees for production tasks like cutting all that paper and setting up the press and adjusting the press to make the right impression
e. Ink: $48 for a pre-mixed 1lb can of ink. If you want 2 colors, well, that's $96. Unless it's a color I already own...
f. Print time: Each element takes a few hours to set up and run through the press. I've had one wedding take 16 hours to print. It is a very time consuming hand craft. One ink color is done at a time...once complete, the press and rollers are thoroughly cleaned and then the press is re-set up, re-inked, and re-adjusted for ink color number 2. That is why 2 color jobs are so much more money. 2 colors means more plates to be made and double the time for printing. But a lovely effect!
g. packing and shipping, corner rounding, finishing elements, etc. (fees add up to make your invite perfect).
The other thing people need to keep in mind is that letterpress is best for 1 or 2 ink colors. It is also best for simple and clean designs. Overlapping text over an image is risky with letterpress and I try to avoid it.
People also need to understand that this is a hand craft with each print varying slightly from one print to the next. This adds to the charm of the technique. While it shouldn't have drastic ink inconsistency, it can have slight variations in color from one to the next thanks to the impression changes on the press.
Are there any instances where you wouldn't advise a couple to use letterpress for their invites?
I don't recommend it for people who want PERFECTION in every page. There can be slight variation in the pressure from page to page. People who love the SAME EXACT ink shade on every single page across several pieces might want to go with offset printing or some other technique that is more machine/computer based. Letterpress lends a lot of charm to a wedding and that tactile quality is what makes it special. Another thing to keep in mind is letterpress is not quick. If a bride wants her invites in a week letterpress is not the best option. For a custom design, I suggest brides leave AT LEAST 3 months BEFORE the mail date to start on the design. Best option is 5 months early. This allows for lots of time to go back and forth and make things perfect, allow for printing, and allow time in case of any catastrophes with the calligrapher, etc. You don't want to be rushed at the end and have something go wrong (with no time to fix it).
What has been your favorite wedding invitation to work on and why?
My favorite wedding invite to work on is my peacock and feather set. I get the most inquiries for this design. I think the design is a unique look while still feeling formal. I like when a design is more than just a paragraph of text in a block on a page with an image stuck on there. I like doing that "little something extra." There are so few sacred things we are around for in our lives and I feel like this is the one time you can really spurge for good reason.
What's hot/trendy in letterpress invites?
Letterpress used to be just simple text and maybe an icon at the top of the page. Now, anything goes!
Botanical themes are big (silhouettes of leaves or flowers)...interesting use of typography is also hot. Fun colors are taking a step forward...like bright pinks and oranges and lime greens. Lots of people are choosing to have a vintage look using antique fonts and clip art...this sets the tone for a festive wedding. If you are splurging on letterpress, you might as well go all out with the design and really make a statement.
b. Plate costs: once the design is complete, the file is sent out for plastic "plates" to be made from the design. Each intended ink color gets its own plate. The fees vary, but I can say the costs START at $45 for a small plate around 8 x 6 inches. I've had most wedding plates total around $75 or so.
c. Cost of paper: Thick cotton paper can run $60 per ream or more. It all depends on the stock that is selected. Wedding invites use lots of paper for the invitation, reply card, and envelopes for reply and outer envelope.
d. Fees for production tasks like cutting all that paper and setting up the press and adjusting the press to make the right impression
e. Ink: $48 for a pre-mixed 1lb can of ink. If you want 2 colors, well, that's $96. Unless it's a color I already own...
f. Print time: Each element takes a few hours to set up and run through the press. I've had one wedding take 16 hours to print. It is a very time consuming hand craft. One ink color is done at a time...once complete, the press and rollers are thoroughly cleaned and then the press is re-set up, re-inked, and re-adjusted for ink color number 2. That is why 2 color jobs are so much more money. 2 colors means more plates to be made and double the time for printing. But a lovely effect!
g. packing and shipping, corner rounding, finishing elements, etc. (fees add up to make your invite perfect).
The other thing people need to keep in mind is that letterpress is best for 1 or 2 ink colors. It is also best for simple and clean designs. Overlapping text over an image is risky with letterpress and I try to avoid it.
People also need to understand that this is a hand craft with each print varying slightly from one print to the next. This adds to the charm of the technique. While it shouldn't have drastic ink inconsistency, it can have slight variations in color from one to the next thanks to the impression changes on the press.
Are there any instances where you wouldn't advise a couple to use letterpress for their invites?
I don't recommend it for people who want PERFECTION in every page. There can be slight variation in the pressure from page to page. People who love the SAME EXACT ink shade on every single page across several pieces might want to go with offset printing or some other technique that is more machine/computer based. Letterpress lends a lot of charm to a wedding and that tactile quality is what makes it special. Another thing to keep in mind is letterpress is not quick. If a bride wants her invites in a week letterpress is not the best option. For a custom design, I suggest brides leave AT LEAST 3 months BEFORE the mail date to start on the design. Best option is 5 months early. This allows for lots of time to go back and forth and make things perfect, allow for printing, and allow time in case of any catastrophes with the calligrapher, etc. You don't want to be rushed at the end and have something go wrong (with no time to fix it).
What has been your favorite wedding invitation to work on and why?
My favorite wedding invite to work on is my peacock and feather set. I get the most inquiries for this design. I think the design is a unique look while still feeling formal. I like when a design is more than just a paragraph of text in a block on a page with an image stuck on there. I like doing that "little something extra." There are so few sacred things we are around for in our lives and I feel like this is the one time you can really spurge for good reason.
What's hot/trendy in letterpress invites?
Letterpress used to be just simple text and maybe an icon at the top of the page. Now, anything goes!
Botanical themes are big (silhouettes of leaves or flowers)...interesting use of typography is also hot. Fun colors are taking a step forward...like bright pinks and oranges and lime greens. Lots of people are choosing to have a vintage look using antique fonts and clip art...this sets the tone for a festive wedding. If you are splurging on letterpress, you might as well go all out with the design and really make a statement.
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