What's the difference between Blind Letterpress and Embossing?

Blind Letterpress

Blind letterpress creates an impression into the card and is just letterpressing without the use of any ink – the result is a tactile impression, without any colour. The impression is best with double-thick (duplexed) light coloured stocks so there is more shadow to define the design.

Learn more about Letterpress printing
 

Embossing 

Embossing is a beautiful, permanently raised area that is just so hard to resist running your fingers over without colour.

Two custom made plates fit into each other with precision, so that when the paper is pressed between them, the raised plate forces the stock into the recessed plate. 

Learn more about Embossing 

Top Tips:

• Small text or lots of important details aren't great for blind letterpress or embossing as it can be quite difficult to read.
• Blind Letterpress or Embossing works well combined with digital printing as well (like the invitation and the coaster in the above pic).
• Lighter shades of stock work best as you'll get a noticeable shadow.
• For maximum impression choose a double thick (duplexed) stock. For embossing you can choose whether to see the impression on the reverse of the card, or to have a smooth back, although the impression will be slightly less.
• It's best used for subtle design elements and to add that luxury tactile touch. Try blind letterpress or embossing with monograms or florals and bold sans-serif typefaces.
• We highly recommended send your embossing artwork to be checked for its suitability BEFORE ordering. Embossing can be tricky to get right! The two main issues are text being too small to emboss successfully and artwork with lines that are too close together so the embossing misses details or blends together… incorrect artwork can delay your order if we need to come back to you to fix it 😊

Check out the guidelines

Be sure to check out our Artwork Guidelines for important details to consider when creating your designs for blind letterpress or embossing. 

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Easy instructions for Embossing

Easy instructions for letterpress