About Letterpress

What is Letterpress Printing?
As the oldest form of printing, letterpress is a highly labor intensive process in which each piece of paper is individually fed into the press for every color applied. The unique quality of letterpress printing is achieved by pressing a raised surface into paper, creating a crisp, textured result. The look and feel of a letterpress invitation or greeting brings to mind a bygone era and is, in our opinion, unmatched by any other form of printing. In today's fast-paced age of modern technology, it is an ardent celebration of the tactile and the traditional.

In the past several years, letterpress printing has enjoyed a notable resurgence. At SWEET Letterpress & Design, we believe that the renewed interest in this centuries-old method can be attributed to our collective need to connect to the world around us in a more grounded and authentic way. With these guiding principles in mind, we endeavor to capture a mood both fresh and nostalgic in our designs.

Letterpress Resources

While we love visitors, we unfortunately don't have the studio space to host classes. We do occasionally take interns. If you are looking for an internship, please check our studio page to see if we are currently looking for new people.

The Book Arts League offers regular letterpress workshops throughout the year in Lafayette, CO. We also recommend that those interested in learning more about letterpress visit the Briar Press web site. Briar Press is an online community of printers and is an excellent resource for novices and seasoned professionals alike. Visit their website for general printing information, discussion forums and information regarding buying and selling equipment.

LETTERPRESS PRINTING FOR DESIGNERS

While we are primarily a design studio, we do occasionally provide letterpress printing for other creative folks. We have collaborated with many designers to bring projects to life in a way that effectively maximizes the beauty of letterpress. Contact us to see if we are a good fit for your print project.

We require all files be submitted in Adobe Illustrator format (CS4 or earlier) with fonts outlined and colors specified from the Pantone Solid Uncoated Guide.  Solid strokes must be a minimum of 0.35pt (dotted strokes should be a minimum of 1pt) and a 0.25 total bleed is required when applicable. When designing for letterpress, keep in mind that the medium's strength lies in fine lines. Large floods of color can be quite challenging and produce unpredictable results. Feel free to contact us for additional pointers on how best to prepare your design for letterpress printing.