Printing Processes

Processes used by Hayfords

Letterpress, Offset, Digital Printing / Thermography / Blind Embossing / Foil Stamping

Because Hayfords have retained the old technology, as well as embracing the new, they can offer you a wider range of products, under one roof, than any other wedding stationery supplier.

In fact, a lot of other printers have taken advantage of Hayfords expertise to enhance their own service to their customers.

Below are shown examples of processes used by Hayfords to create your wedding stationery and accessories

Letterpress Printing

There is a little bit of a renaissance going on with letterpress printing and it is becoming just the epitimy of class when it comes to social stationery.

Can be used to stunning effect on some of the hand made papers or the true watermarked vellum papers (though not the opaque papers that appear to have the same name these days).

Offset Printing

Before the advent of the digital press - full colour printing was printed by offset or screen printing. Offset printing involves a plate per colour and four colour printing is not that viable for short runs. However, for quality colour printing Offset or even letterpress printing it is still the way to go.

Thermographed Text

Effective with fine and medium type fonts, thermographed text lifts plain text up from the ordinary.

Overcooked or used on thicker faces just doesn't do it justice, it gets a grainy, blobby look about it.

Absolutely stunning in black on a plain white card. See our Invitation M2O-32

Thermography - Graphic

The sample shown has been printed and thermographed on a sheerprint paper. The graphic has lots of detail in it and we were all delighted with the results.

Thermography has the same effect as blind embossing in that it raises the print up from the paper of card. Not always effective on solids but the outlines of the blocks nicely set off the solids of the turrets and the effect was stunning.

Blind Embossed Text

Fabulous on covers and can be used to great effect with script fonts. However, some script fonts will need extra work to thicken up the fine lines.

Blind embossing effectively pushes up the outline from the card.

See below for an effective use of this process

Blind Embossing Graphics

The rings have been blind embossed on aluminium plate and the fern on thick card. Blind embossing can be carried out on anything from paper through to thick card but the thicker the card the thicker the outline must be. Fine lines cannot be blind embossed into thick card and the simplest way to explain that is that the line has to be thicker that the card you are wanting to blind emboss

Foil Stamped Text

This invitation was prepared using heated magnesium plates. Most printers will not even attempt to print on the hand made purple paper but not scared of a challenge Hayfords can not only print on it we can foil stamp as well.

Foil Stamping can be done in several colours and is a stunning alternative to heat raised or Thermography printing. Graphics can be done at the same time. Check out the die cut shapes on this page.

Using Hot metal type we could print the invitation and then foil stamp just the bride and grooms names. All sorts of options are possible.

Foil Stamped Graphic

The foiling of this motif just made this invitation. The motif could also have been blind embossed or both.

Hayfords carry out true foil stamping with either hot metal or magnesium plates. There have been other process tried to mimic this process and while they have met with limited sucess the effect is just not the same.

Foil Stamped and Blind embossed

What a stunning effect this was. The true white wedding. Text here has been foil stamped and then blind embossed.

The cover was treated in the same way with the names of the bride and groom

This process can be done with initials to great effect as well and also graphics. Often with the graphics you can foil stamp the picture and only blind emboss parts to great effect.

Die Cut Cards

Unlike desktop publishing - we are not limited to straight edges or three out of an A4 sheet. Diecutting allows us to cut any shape you want. It allows us to be able to mount your jigsaws on backing boards and diecut them with consistance of shape rather than messy hand cutting

It allows for the great range of envelopes that we prepare as well as the boxes we make.

Diecutting can be carried out on paper thru to thick card and pliant plastics

Die Cut Shapes

Diecutting shapes allows object or papers behind to seen through from the front. Great visuals can tempt your guests before they even know who the invitation is from. All small enhancements that just make the invitation stand out from the rest.