The Letterpress is an age old machine formerly used in the production of broadsides, newspapers, and business card printing. This process is best known for its for high quality impressions with a ‘bite’ or embossment that can be felt with the fingers or seen by the naked eye. Today, we employ this tool in our shop for the purpose of enhancing printed pieces with embossment, die-cutting, and scoring elements.

In preserving this historic process , letterpress demands specialty materials and time intensive setups. This makes it ideal for larger quantity runs where setups costs will give you more bang for your buck. Whatever project you’ve got in mind, drop us a line and we can get a conversation started with our pressman about how best to actualize your vision.

Press-Ready Artwork

When preparing your artwork for print, it’s best to work from native digital/vector files or even an original drawing if available. As far as formats go, .ai or .eps files with all text converted to outlines are ideal. Any gradients or mid tones will be printed with as a standard halftone pattern. If you do not have vector art, or are unsure which format to use, please send all versions available. We’ll be able to diagnose the artwork and get us all headed in the right direction. 

‘Press-ready’ artwork means all elements are prepared to be color separated, add trapping, etc as needed to turn your image into a polymer plate. If you need us to setup artwork for you, we perform this service at the rate of $75/hour with a half hour minimum.

When designing or laying out your artwork, bear in mind that polymer plates are raised only .918 inches to allow for consistent, fine impressions. As a result, details smaller than .25pts thick or fonts under 8-12pt (depending on the style) cannot be maintained on press. If you are unsure about whether or not your artwork will translate well to silkscreen, send over your files and we will help you determine how best to recreate the image.

For a comprehensive overview of file prep for letterpress, we recommend checking out the Boxcar Press website. They are regarded as the go-to resource for many shops in the country!

Pricing

Price will be determined based on the number of ink colors, quantity, paper weight, and size. Additional fees may apply for trimming, folding, scoring, or other specialty processes.

For a comprehensive quote, please contact Kendell Harbin at kendell@odditiesprints.com

Need a ballpark estimate in the meantime?

Let's say you have a 1-color, 2-sided standard business card you need printed:

500qty cards on 40pt chipboard stock: $480
500qty cards on premium 220lb DTC Crane’s Lettra stock: $595
1000qty cards on premium 220lb DTC Crane’s Lettra stock: $765

Turnaround Time

Letterpress turnaround is typically 1.5 - 3 weeks from the date of proof approval. If you have an upcoming event or desired in-hand date, be sure to share that in your quote request so we can help quickly meet your deadline. If you need something completed in less time, rush fees can be calculated upon request.