The Art of Letterpress Printing

Letterpress is a centuries-old printing process. Ink is applied to a raised surface and then pressed into the paper. The images on Sweetbeets cards are made into custom engraved photopolymer plates.

When the printing plate is put on the letterpress, it is inked and the pressure creates a crisp, deep impression in the paper that you can see and feel. It’s this unique texture that distinguishes letterpress from other types of printing.

High quality letterpress printing depends on knowing just the right roller pressure to get the right amount of ink so that it settles evenly into the grooves. Each color is printed separately from its own printing plate, and it takes skill to ensure that the printed images are perfectly aligned and that the depth of impression is consistent.

Sweetbeets greeting cards are letterpress printed in Canada using a vintage printing press.