There are a few considerations that should be taken into consideration when designing for Letterpress. Keep in mind that your design will need to be approved for Letterpress output before we can proceed.
File Setup
Setting up a press-ready file for Letterpress cards can be a complex process, we recommend having an experienced designer set this up for you.
See: Setting Up Press Ready Spot Colour File for Letterpress.
Vector Format
We recommend vector format graphics only. See: What is a vector.
While raster graphics (pixel based) are possible – it is a difficult setup and not optimal for Letterpress printing. We can not assist with setup of raster graphic files.
Impression
A slight impression may show through to the reverse side of a Letterpress print. This should be taken into account when setting up your design – especially for two-sided printing.
Half tones and shades
Half-tones can be used to give the appearance of gradients and shades; however your design will need to be approved by our pre-press team beforehand.
Fine Detail
We recommend the smallest detail for letterpress printing be equal or larger than 0.2 pt line-weight.
Font Size (Legibility)
In order for text to be legible, we recommend using a minimum of 7pt for your font size. However, this may vary depending on the the type and line-weight of a font, it's a good benchmark for determining the font size.
If you require further information, or are not sure if your design is suitable for Letterpress – please contact our Prepress line before placing your order.