Although it’s said that one can letterpress onto most surfaces, ideally you’ll want a paper thick enough to produce a deep impression, while luscious enough to provide a sophisticated tactile experience. The letterpress process harks back to the classic days of high-quality craftsmanship not found in most modern printing methods. The process requires a high degree of skill, but in the right hands, letterpress excels at fine typography. Because the printing process lays down one color at a time, it’s important to select a paper that will absorb the ink evenly.
Cotton papers have been a favorite choice among letterpress printers and designers due to their durability to withstand pressure from the press. No other printing process produces more favorable results than letterpress, so it’s even more critical to experiment on a variety of papers. You’ll be surprised at how beautiful an invitation prints on something like Rising Museum Board - a board normally used by the framing industry.
