glossary

Engraving:
The most formal of printing methods, through which the letters appear slightly raised.

Engraving plate:

An etched steel die used to create engraved type or images.

Letterpress:
A beautiful printing alternative to engraving. The labor-intensive method dates back to the fifteenth century and involves inking an image to produce an impression: the impression is transferred by placing paper against the image and manually applying pressure. The images and typeface appear precise -- individually 'stamped into' the paper -- and very rich in color.

Letterpress is great if you're using unusual paper, motifs, typeface, or want to play around with pigments. Comparatively, engraving and thermography restrict the possibilities.

Thermography:
A less expensive way to fake the look of engraving. A heat-based process fuses ink and resinous powder to create raised lettering. The subtle differences: thermographed text is slightly shiny and the back of the invitation remains smooth (no impression).

Offset:
The 'flat' printing used on everyday fliers, letterhead, stickers, and more. It's a nice choice if you have a limited budget or several different colors of ink (with engraving and embossing, you're usually limited to just one).

PMS Color (also called spot color or pantone):
A set of standard colors for printing, each of which is specified by a single number, enabling a print shop to exactly reproduce the original desired color exactly.

Serif Typeface or Font:
The more traditional of typefaces (fonts) that use a smaller line used to finish off a main stroke of a letter.

Sans Serif Typeface or Font:
A more modern style of monotonal type without serifs.

Script Typeface or Font:
Any flowing style of type. It can be casual or formal depending on style.

Calligraphy:
The perfected art of handwriting/penmanship. Often associated with fancy, curlicue script, calligraphy is now comprised of several genres

and styles.

Foil Stamp:
Method of printing that releases foil from its backing when stamped with the heated die. The imprint will have a slight to drastic sheen depending on foil chosen.

Embossing:
A printing technique that forms letters and images with a raised 'relief' surface, imparting added dimension to the invitation design. Usually used for large initials or borders.

Debossing:
To press an image into paper so it lies below the surface.

Blind-embossing:
A printing process that employs a die to yield colorless letters and images with a raised 'relief' surface.

Laser Cut:
An intricate way to cut very detailed shapes out of paper. (Can appear lace-like)

Die Cut:
To cut irregular shapes in paper or paperboard using a die.

Etching:
The method with which wood or metals are 'printed'.

Substrate:
The type of materials used in a project.

Alder Wood:
A medium soft wood used as an alternative to paper on some bluebird invite designs.