Ordering & timing
How long does letterpress printing take?
Production typically takes three or four weeks from proof approval. Design and proofing happen before that, so if your project needs design work, please build in extra time. Every date we give is an estimate. We try to stick to them as closely as we can, but each job is printed by hand on vintage presses, and we'd rather ship you something beautiful than something rushed.
Do you offer rush printing?
Sometimes, usually outside of peak wedding season. Production in five business days adds a 50% rush charge. We're a small studio that takes on a fixed number of projects each year, so let us know your time frame and we'll provide a production time estimate for your project. If you'd like to print a rush project, please have your artwork finalized and send that in for the quote. We have to review the artwork immediately to know if something can be rushed.
How does ordering work?
Start with a quote request and we'll talk through paper, process, and budget. If everything looks good, we'll send an invoice with a link for online payments. We then send a PDF proof of your artwork after we set it up for platemaking. With your approval, we begin making the plates and get it scheduled for the press. The whole flow is laid out on our process page.
Can I cancel or change my order?
You can cancel any time in writing. The refundable amount depends on how far along your project has progressed through production. Before proof approval, your deposit comes back minus a $250 setup fee. After proof approval, we retain 25% of the invoice amount; once paper is cut or the job is on press, 50%; and completed orders can't be cancelled. Changes after proof approval are quoted as a new revision. The full policy lives in our printing terms.
How much does letterpress printing cost?
Every project is quoted individually. There are so many different options, there's no one-size price for hand-printed work. The big drivers are quantity, paper choice, the number of ink or foil colors, finished size, and finishing like die cutting or edge painting. Request a quote for free pricing and advice.
Paper, ink & techniques
What papers do you print on?
Our go-to stocks include Crane's Lettra cotton, Colorplan, Gmund, Arturo, Wild, Classic Crest, and Mohawk Superfine, in single, double-thick, and duplexed weights. We also love printing on handmade paper. The full lineup is on our paper page.
Can I supply my own paper?
Yes. Supplied stock runs at your own risk. Some sheets are wasted on setup and printing, so needing extra is an unavoidable part of hand printing. Plan on supplying at least 20% overage above your finished quantity. We pull a test impression where practical, and if a stock isn't performing on press we stop and tell you rather than burn through your paper.
What ink and foil colors are available?
We hand-mix from a library of 118 ink colors, standard, pastel, and neon. We also match custom Pantone Solid Uncoated colors for brand work. Foils include gold, silver, copper, rose gold, holographic, and a range of colored foils.
What printing techniques do you offer?
Letterpress printing, foil stamping, blind debossing, die cutting, and digital printing including white ink printing. Some projects combine two or more. Check out the How We Print section for more details, with photos.
Will every piece look exactly identical?
Very close, but not machine-identical, but that's kind of the charm of letterpress. Each piece is fed through vintage presses, and the slight variation in impression and ink from print to print is the signature of real craft printing. That said, consistency is something we aim for, and each print is quality controlled after printing to be sure they all make the cut.
Artwork & design
What file types do you accept?
A print-ready PDF is ideal. We also accept AI, EPS, PSD, TIFF, PNG, and JPG files through the quote form. Vector artwork prints sharpest for letterpress and foil, and it is our strongest recommendation. We may not be able to print from a JPEG or PNG file. Our file preparation guide covers the details.
Can you print my Canva design?
Yes. We've printed plenty of Canva designs. In our prepress service, a graphic designer converts your export into production-ready files with the right bleed, color setup, and trapping. We wrote up what works and what to watch for.
I don't have a design yet. Can you help?
Yes. We offer full design from concept to press-ready files, or prepress cleanup of an existing design starting at $125. Design and printing are quoted separately, and we can offer a fixed rate quote if you like.
Do I get to approve a proof?
Always. Every order gets a PDF proof before anything goes to press, and nothing prints until you approve it. Please check it carefully. Approval covers spelling, names, dates, layout, colors, and quantity, and we print exactly what's approved.
Shipping, samples & trade
Where do you ship?
We ship nationwide from our letterpress studio in Alexandria, Louisiana. Clients in New York, California, and every state between are well represented. Distance has never been an obstacle to a great project. In fact, most of our work is shipped.
Can I see and feel samples before ordering?
For sure! They say seeing is believing. And that's the best way to understand letterpress. Order a $35 sample pack and choose the focus that matches your project: business, weddings, business cards, stationery, or a little of everything.
Do you work with designers and stationers?
Yes. Our wholesale program offers trade pricing and blind shipping for designers, stationers, wedding planners, and print shops. You handle the client relationship; we make you look good on press.
