What is Letterpress?
Letterpress is a form of relief printing where a raised, inked surface presses into thick paper, transferring the ink and leaving a crisp, tactile impression you can feel with your finger. This guide explains what it is, what's available, and what to expect from the finished piece.
About our Letterpress Designs
Every letterpress design is created and carefully vetted by one of our talented Zazzle Creators, so you're starting with a professionally designed piece that's ready to make your own. Because it's a template, personalizing is easy — just fill in your details, like names or event information — while the design, fonts, colors, and layout stay exactly as shown on the product page.
Letterpress is a highly specialized printing process, and designs need to be built carefully to press cleanly into the paper. Because of this, every letterpress design is created by an approved Creator and vetted to ensure it prints well, so the card you receive meets a consistently high quality standard.
Letterpress products available
Zazzle offers five letterpress products, each usable across a range of events and occasions:
These products are commonly used for wedding invitations, RSVPs, thank you cards, Christmas cards, Save the Dates, quinceañera invitations, business cards, and postcards.
How letterpress printing works
- Design - Every letterpress project starts with a design, whether that’s a simple monogram or a mix of letterpressed text and digitally printed photographs. The letterpress elements are refined and converted into a printing plate, which transfers your design to paper.
- Prepare the press - After the design is checked, the plate is mounted on the press and aligned for the card type. Ink is applied and the paper stock is loaded.
- Print - The press applies pressure to the plate, pushing the inked design into the paper to create the signature impression. Each sheet passes through one at a time.
Designs with more than one color use a separate plate for each ink.
Ink colors available for letterpress cards
We offer 18 beautiful ink colors, which you’ll find on the product page for each card. Because letterpress is so hands-on, slight color variation can occur, and we think it only adds to the character of each finished piece.
Passion — #9183A1
Berry — #8C5566
Rosewood — #D090A3
Red — #F8515F
Sage — #729C8C
Hunter — #3F6F61
Sky — #9AC7EF
Blue — #006DB7
Midnight — #434F6A
Slate — #747B83
Black — #625D59
Copper — #B08770
Surplus Green — #A69F45
Pumpkin — #EB922A
Latte — #DEC7B7
Peach — #F8A691
Lemon — #FFDE6A
Merlot — #AF205B
What to expect from your letterpress cards
Because letterpress is a handcrafted process, minor variations can occur from piece to piece. This is normal and part of the character of letterpress:
Impression - You'll feel a slight depression in the paper where the design is pressed in.
Color variation - Slight variation in ink color can occur between pieces.
Ink coverage - Large solid areas of color may show slight variation in coverage, known as mottling.
Letterpress vs. digital printing
| Letterpress | Digital | |
| Best for | Typography, monograms, line art, minimalist designs | Photography, complex graphics, full color |
| Quantity | Smaller runs | Larger quantities |
| Turnaround | Longer | Shorter |
| Cost | Higher investment | More economical |
Some products combine both methods, pairing letterpress text with digitally printed images and designs, such as Photo Flat Cards.
Frequently asked questions
Can you print multiple colors with letterpress?
Yes. Each color is printed separately in its own stage, so multi-color designs come out with clean detail.
Is letterpress environmentally friendly?
It can be, especially when paired with FSC-certified and recycled paper stocks, eco-friendly inks and coatings, and on-demand printing.
What paper works best for letterpress printing?
Signature White Cotton paper is made for premium letterpress. Its cotton texture and substantial weight create a deep, tactile impression.
Do all letterpress cards come with envelopes?
Yes, all letterpress cards include white envelopes with your order.
What is another name for letterpress printing?
Letterpress is also called letterpressing or relief printing.
Can I change the font of a letterpress design?
No. Fonts are set by the Creator and can't be changed. You can only fill in the personalization fields the Creator has set up, such as names or event details.
Can I add an image to a letterpress design?
Standard letterpress cards don't include photos. The Photo Flat Card combines letterpress text with a digitally printed photo, but it works the same way as other letterpress products: you can add your own photo to the existing photo placeholder in the template, not add extra images or change the design.
Can I change layout of a letterpress design?
No. The design and layout come as shown on the product page. Only the fields the Creator has made editable can be personalized.
Why can't I edit letterpress designs like other Zazzle products?
Letterpress is a specialized printing process, and designs need to be built carefully to press cleanly into the paper. Every design is created by an approved Creator and vetted to ensure it prints well, so the card you receive meets a consistently high quality standard.