By Janine Sinclair

Your guests’ first look into your wedding will come in the form of the wedding invitation. While the wedding budget will usually determine if the wedding formal or casual, it will also affect the invitations. This will include the possible choices of wedding printing techniques.

Many of these techniques have been around for centuries. There are skilled artisans that only specialize in one technique or another. Depending on your choice of printers, you may find that one is less expensive than another. Do a little research ahead of time to see which technique creates the end result you like the most. You can then find the printer that utilizes that technique, but offers it within your price range.

Engraving

Engraving is one of the most beautiful printing techniques and is usually reserved for formal weddings. It’s also one of the most expensive. A special plate made of metal is engraved with your wording. This plate is dipped in ink and the paper is pressed from the back. This creates the raised effect, as well as the indented lines found on the back of the invitation. The paper that is normally used for this printing technique is made from 100% cotton.

Thermography

The end results of using thermography are similar to engraving. However, there are no indented lines found on the back of the paper. This is usually the only noticeable difference between thermography and engraving. Wet ink is sprinkled with a powder and then it is melted to create the raised effect. This is a relatively old method and is less expensive than engraving. You can also use a lighter weight paper, which works well for invitations for daytime weddings.

Letterpress

This is also an older art form and it creates a beautiful indented feel for your invitations. Different colors may be used, but each of the colors will require an additional pass through the printer. The real appeal of letterpress is that you can use unusual textures for your paper and the unique designs that can be created are virtually limitless.

Offset Flat Printing

This is the least expensive of all the printing techniques and produces a very smooth result. The colors are very beautiful and it’s a terrific selection for photo invitations. The ink is heated and special printers are used to transfer the ink to the paper. If you want your invitations bold and colorful, this is a fantastic option. You can incorporate your wedding colors or those from your wedding theme with ease.

A Few Final Thoughts

Depending on your wedding budget, you may find that the traditional engraving is not an option. Believe it or not, it’s all right! You can still have beautiful wedding invitations that have a wonderful printing technique.

For those want the most formal of wedding invitations, engraving is your best option. This is one of the most traditional of printing techniques and it creates the look of elegance that many require for their weddings.

About The Author

Janine Sinclair is an experienced writer who maintains the wedding planning section of the www.kardella.com site. Visit the site to inspect a large range of wedding invitations or for advice on wedding invitation wording

Tags: For Weddings