5 Capabilities of Letterpress Printing

Letterpress printing is the oldest traditional printing technique that dates back to the 1400s. Letterpress, or typographic printing, is the repetitive printing of an inked stamp on many copies of paper or other print mediums. Traditional letterpress printing can be a lengthy process to build quality custom print designs. However, as printing technologies have progressed over centuries, more letterpress capabilities and efficiencies, as well as other printing techniques, have developed.

Die-Cutting

Die-Cutting is used to create custom shapes and designs. A die is a piece of steel tool used to cut through materials to make the desired design. Geometric, organic, edge, and pockets are just a few examples of die-cut types. Die-cutting can be used for flyers, business cards, or any print media that you want to be recognizable by a specific shape or design.

Embossing

Embossing is a raised or etched design in paper or other substrate. Three types of embossing are registered embossing, blind embossing, and combination embossing. Registered embossing is done by using ink or foil to create a raised and textured design. Blind embossing does not use ink or color; it leaves an impression on the substrate. Combination embossing is when embossing and foil stamping are done simultaneously. Embossing is often used for print media such as official documentation, certificates, diplomas, special invites, cards, etc.

Foil Stamping

Want your print product to stand out and shimmer? Foil stamping combines heat, pressure, and metallic paper to create a shining impression that enhances print. The foiling adds a shine or reflection to a print project. It also can make a print project more unique or sophisticated. Foil stamping can be used on brochures, invitations, labels, and other promotional materials.

Numbering

Numbering is used to put numbers on print media sequentially. The digit changes by one impression after another. Numbering is a common letterpress process as the machine will continuously number the print media in a swift manner. Numbering can be used for barcodes, raffle tickets, forms, invoices, passports, and other legal documents.

Digital Die-Cutting

Digital die-cutting is just like traditional die-cutting but done electronically. Unlike traditional die-cutting, digital die-cutting does not require steel dies. Digital die-cutting has become popular recently because people can buy small machines to die-cut at home. These at-home machines are used for custom designs and crafts. Digital die-cutting is used to create labels, stickers, signs, and much more.

At Omega, our Heidelberg Windmill Press, Heidelberg Cylinder Press, and the Kluge Foiling/Embossing Press are used for all five letterpress capabilities listed above.

Contact Omega High-Impact Print Solutions to learn more about our letterpress options and start your next project!

Written by Omega High-Impact Print Solutions’ Marketing Intern, Ava Hoch