Letterpress and Handmade Paper
Papermaking is an ancient artform and even in today’s modern and industrially focused world, there are still many artisans who lovingly make paper by hand. These soft and textured papers are typically made from recyclable materials such as cotton or other plant fibers and allow for a deep impression from both letterpress and foil stamping methods.
Handmade paper is traditionally used for romantic or earthy wedding invitations, but we love unconventional uses as well! Handmade paper can be great for a unique business card or a one of a kind note card to send to friends and family.
Listed below are some commonly asked questions regarding handmade paper. Please feel free to contact us if you have any other questions!
Handmade Paper FAQ
Yes! Because there are so many different paper makers and types of handmade papers, we are always happy to accept paper supplied by our clients.
Typically, we need an extra 30% of sheets, for set-up and waste. For example, if your project is for 100 5x7 sheets, we would need at least 130 sheets to ensure that we have enough paper to deliver the best prints. Most handmade paper that is ordered from mills or paper makers will have unusable sheets, so this is also factored in as well.
Most handmade papers work beautifully with letterpress and foil stamping, taking a deep impression. However, because each sheet is uniquely shaped, it's best to anticipate some variance in the placement of your design.
It's also important to make sure your design is tailored to the right scale, as handmade papers can vary heavily in size. A design that has a lot of coverage may look different from print to print.
While we haven't experienced this problem yet, we have to consider all scenarios. If your supplied paper is damaged during production, we are only responsible up to the invoice amount of your project.
We use high quality digital printers that are capable of printing full color on handmade paper (and even white ink on colored handmade papers). However, since we hand-feed each sheet, we can only offer this service in smaller quantities (under 250).
Just as we would for any other project, we need vector artwork. It's important to note that your design should allow for gripper room at least 3/4" on two connecting edges of the paper, since the handmade paper sheets come in the actual size and won't be trimmed down after printing.
Most handmade paper comes in standard sizes, like A7 (5" x 7" or A2 (4.25" x 5.5"). However, because paper made by hand is irregular and not uniform, along with often having deckled edges, they might not always fit perfectly into standard sized envelopes. We recommend buying samples of the paper you're interested in and fitting it in the size envelope you're wanting. This way, you can decide if it's necessary to size up on the envelope.
There are many vendors out there that create beautiful papers! We have worked with several, and have had great success with Sri Aurobindo, Fabulous Fancy Pants, and Porridge Papers. You can either ship it to us yourself, or directly from the supplier to save on shipping costs. `
