Just designed and printed a really nice set of business cards for Geoffrey from Peepcode (Screencasts for developers). It’s a one-sided card printed on thick black (900gsm) paper with sliver ink and a blind deboss. We wanted the design to be subtle and elegant and I think we hit the mark with the debossed logo in the background and the silver metallic ink for the type. The thick paper definitely makes a good first impression too!
These are probably one of the coolest business cards we’ve designed and printed! These cards were duplexed by us at Dolce Press with a 140lb black stock and 110lb cotton white stock. The white side has an extremely high blind EMBOSS and a silver ink letterpress (DEBOSS). The black side has the contact info letterpress printed in silver ink and the logo is embossed on the back as well. We also embossed a small dotted divider to break up the text. The custom size and rounded diecut corners add a nice additional touch to the cards.
If you think these cards are great, check out this company (www.aerisaviation.com). Aeris Aviation, located in Wisconsin is a company that rents luxury, state-of-the-art aircrafts at affordable rates. I also had the privilege of getting some pictures from Phil Larder, (one of the partners at Aeris Aviation) of the facility which were A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Times like this, I wish I had a Pilots License but luckily for the birds, I don’t.
If you are interested in duplexed cards, diecutting, embossing and of course letterpress, please feel free to contact us.
Here are just a few pics of letterpress business cards we recently printed for commercial and advertising photographer Christian Garibaldi. The cards (printed on 600gsm paper) feature a blind deboss pattern on the front, silver ink on the back with orange colored edges and rounder corners. Christian was in the process of branding himself and wanted unique business cards to hand out that reflect his aesthetic and tied in with the look and feel of his site and portfolio. The end result was a clean design with a subtle pop of color through the use of colored edges.
As you can tell from the photos Christian took, he is a talented photographer.
We wanted to share a few snapshots of a variety of edge colored cards from business cards to stationery and wedding invitations. We think its a great way to add a touch of color to your letterpress project. Almost any color can be painted on the edge of your cards from light pastels to bright neons and even dark colors like purple and black. Metallic colors can also be painted on the edges like the silver and gold metallic cards shown below. We can even match the edge color to the colors printed on your cards or stationery.
It seems that a majority of business cards fall into two categories: simple cards that look like they were punched out on a 1950’s era typewriter or flashy gloss-coated cards that blind you with colors and graphics. Once I was given a dark purple business card with navy blue text. The lack of contrast between the purple and blue made it almost impossible to read the contact information. The key to a great business card is to strike a balance between the two by creating a simple and refined look and sweetening it up with some color (something these letterpress business cards accomplish).
Two colors (cotton candy pink and dark gray) add some punch to these letterpress business cards. The serifed font is classic, elegant, and readable even in small print. Legibility is one of the most important things to consider when designing your business cards.
Just the facts
Designed by: Dolce Press
Stock: 110# fluorescent white cotton paper (Crane’s Lettra)
Size: 3.5″ x 2″
Ink Colors: pink, medium gray (custom mixed – by hand)
Lastly, we’re suckers for anything sweet so if you’re ever near the lower east side of Manhattan go check out the How Sweet It Is pastry shop. You won’t be disappointed!
I’ve been sick recently and haven’t been able to share these beautiful letterpress invitations with you. Being sick, I’ve had more time to keep dreaming of the wonderful details on these invitations that I helped photograph several weeks ago.
Aren’t the details so cute? Sophie Nicolay, who designs for Martha Stewart, created this invite for Daniel and Jessica. I love the little icons which make up the heart – they represent meaningful things to the couple.
The wonderful thing about working with a designer and a custom letterpress company like Dolce Press is not just the quality but all the meaningful little details. I think invitations, particularly from important events in ones life are things people save for a long time, I know I do. Long after I have lost or used the favors, cannot recognize half the friends in the photos, I have a carefully saved stash of graduation, bar/bat mitzvah, and wedding invitations mixed in with special birthday and holiday cards. And the best ones evoke the people themselves at that stage in their lives.
Look at the little chicken and vegetable, so cute and thoughtful!
I love the embossing that happens, it makes a great design pop! Cute, modern and thoughtful, combines with classic and enduring quality. This is why letterpress is the best; what letterpress does for ink and paper to make them so much more together.
For multi-event/ multi-part invitations, a booklet invitation like this one bound with eyelets are the perfect fit. They keep all the parts of the invite together in a nice little packet. The RSVP is perforated and tears off to be mailed in a standard A2 envelope. Don’t you love it? We do.
Check out a previous Dolce Press design to see another invitation in this fabulous format – Celebrate Invitation Booklets.
Just the facts
Designer: Sophie Nicolay
Stock: 110# pearl white cotton paper (Crane’s Lettra)
Size: A9 – paired with a pink A9 envelope
Ink Colors: pink, chocolate brown (custom mixed – by hand)
Finishing: 3 pages, creased to allow for folding, 2 brown (matching ink) eyelets used to bind the booklet
Hello All! My name is Rose and I am Dolce Press’s new intern. I am going to be posting about twice a week so you can look forward to plenty of new updates. Tell me you are not excited to see more exquisite work and explore more about the fascinating process of letterpress.
To tell you a little about myself, I am finishing up a Studio Arts BFA degree at SUNY Oswego. I love all kinds of art but have always been particularly attracted to printmaking. I love all sorts of mediums and styles, and papers and books of all kinds. I like the musty smell of used bookstores; I gaze slack jawed and not quite drooling in my local art supply store. But what attracts me to printmaking particularly is a combination of aesthetics, its mix of old fashioned craftsmanship and state of the art technology, and the deeply satisfying gift of being both hand-crafted and replicable. I love the feel of the good heavy paper and the bite of the inked plate as it comes off the sheet.
In my studies, I have worked with a lot of different printmaking techniques but not letterpress. Despite quite a few contemporary printers, including Dolce Press, making some really outstanding work both commercially and artwise, a lot of art departments have lost the ability to teach the method. So I would like to share with you my journey in learning all about letterpress and the beautiful things it does on paper.
Ta Ta For Now, Rose
