A Plain-English Guide to Wedding Invitation Printing

The print method you choose for your wedding invitations affects how they look, how they feel in someone’s hand, and how much they cost. Some techniques are flat and graphic, others are deeply tactile. Some work on any design, others require specific paper stocks or minimum quantities.

This guide covers every print method Paperlust offers, written so you can quickly understand what each one looks like, what aesthetic it creates, and whether it fits your wedding.

1. Digital Print

Digital print is the most versatile method available, and versatile doesn’t mean plain. It can reproduce any color, any level of detail, any design: from full watercolor florals to clean typography to photo invitations. Whatever you see on screen is what you get on paper.

What it looks like: crisp, full-color reproduction with clean edges. The print itself is flat, though the paper adds its own texture and feel.

Best for: colorful designs, botanical and floral artwork, illustrated invitations, designs with gradients or complex color. Essentially anything where full color range matters.

Minimum order: 10 cards. It’s the most accessible and most affordable of all Paperlust’s print methods.

2. Letterpress

Letterpress uses a plate to press ink deep into thick paper, leaving a visible impression in the surface. It’s one of the most tactile print experiences: you can see and feel the depth of every letter and design element.

What it looks like: deeply pressed text with visible ink and a slight raised edge on the reverse of the card. It looks crafted, in the best possible way. Nothing else quite replicates that quality.

Best for: minimal designs with generous white space, classic and formal aesthetics, couples who want something with genuine physical presence that feels handmade.

Paper: 300gsm or 600gsm Wild Cotton, a soft, fibrous cotton paper that takes the impression beautifully.

Minimum order: 50 cards.

3. Flat Foil

Flat foil applies a smooth metallic layer directly to the card surface using heat, without a custom die or any debossing. The result is a clean, polished metallic finish that sits flush with the paper.

What it looks like: bright, reflective metallic shimmer that catches the light. No texture from the foil itself, no indent in the paper. Just genuine metallic shine.

Colors available: gold, silver, rose gold, copper.

Paper: 380gsm Premium paper.

Minimum order: 10 cards.

Best for: modern couples who want a genuine metallic finish without the 50-card minimum, smaller weddings, intimate celebrations, anyone who wants clean metallic detail on a contemporary design without deep impression.

Flat foil printing offers a sleek metallic finish without a deep impression, making it a more flexible and cost-effective option for modern designs. It’s also commonly used across other printed items like packaging and branding materials. For example, foil printing beyond invitations, foil stickers and foil business cards can help extend this effect across different touchpoints in a practical and scalable way

4. Foil Stamp

Foil stamp uses a custom die (a metal plate made to your specific design) that’s pressed into the paper with heat and pressure. Two things happen simultaneously: the foil is applied and the paper is debossed, creating a permanent impression.

What it looks like: metallic foil with visible depth. You can see the sheen and feel the indent. Run your finger across it and the design is unmistakable. It’s the most tactile and luxurious of all the foil options.

Colors available: gold, silver, rose gold, copper.

Paper: Wild Cotton.

Minimum order: 50 cards.

Best for: formal or black-tie weddings, couples who want the most elevated and sensory invitation possible, intricate designs where the debossed detail adds a layer of sophistication that flat foil can’t achieve.

5. Metallic Ink

Metallic ink is printed using inks that contain metallic particles, creating a shimmer effect without using actual foil. It’s subtler than true foil, with a softer, slightly muted gleam rather than a high-polish mirror finish.

What it looks like: a soft shimmer that catches the light at certain angles. More understated than foil, but noticeably richer than standard ink. In some designs, that restraint is exactly right.

Best for: couples who want a touch of metallic in their design without the cost or commitment of foil, designs where metallic is an accent rather than the hero element, smaller budgets that still want some sparkle.

6. White Ink

White ink prints white text or design elements on colored or dark paper. It creates an understated, elegant, monochromatic look that works particularly well on deeper stocks.

What it looks like: soft white lettering or design elements against a darker background. On deep navy or black paper, it’s striking. On sage green or dusty blue, it’s quietly beautiful. The effect is simultaneously modern and refined.

Worth knowing: white ink is not available on blush paper.

Best for: modern minimal designs on colored stocks, monochromatic aesthetics, couples who want to move away from the traditional black-on-white invitation without committing to a complex colorful design.

7. Embossing

Embossing is a newer addition to Paperlust’s print options. It raises the paper surface to create dimensional texture, with no ink or foil required. The design element literally stands above the rest of the card. It can be done blind (no ink or foil, just the raised texture) or combined with ink or foil for a more dramatic effect.

What it looks like: a tactile raised area that you notice as much by touch as by sight. Subtle in photographs, impressive in person. It adds a layer of craftsmanship that people often notice without immediately understanding why the invitation feels special.

Best for: adding dimension to a monogram, floral element, or border detail, couples who want a sensory invitation that rewards close attention. Embossing is available through Paperlust’s custom design service.

Choosing the Right Method for Your Wedding

Not sure where to start? Here’s a simple way to think about it:

• Want full color and maximum design flexibility? Digital print.
• Want deep tactile impression and a classic handcrafted feel? Letterpress on Wild Cotton.
• Want genuine metallic shine, smaller order? Flat foil from 10 cards.
• Want the most luxurious metallic and tactile finish? Foil stamp from 50 cards.
• Want subtle metallic shimmer on a tighter budget? Metallic ink.
• Want elegant white lettering on a colored stock? White ink.
• Want dimensional texture that people notice when they hold the card? Embossing.

You can also combine methods: letterpress with a foil accent, digital print with embossing. If you have a specific combination in mind, Paperlust’s team can advise on what works best.

Feel the Difference Before You Order

Reading about paper and print finishes is one thing. Holding them is another. The $5 sample pack includes 7 designs across the main print methods, so you can feel the difference between letterpress and digital print, foil stamp and flat foil, before you commit to a full order.

If you already have a design ready and just need it professionally printed, you can upload your own artwork and choose your preferred print method and paper stock.

The post Wedding Invitation Printing Techniques Explained | Paperlust appeared first on Paperlust.

Look who’s looking so happy today! Hi Shab, it’s nice to meet you! Most of our customers love your designs so they want to know more about you. 

What do you love the most about graphic design? Do you think you’re born for it? 

I love that I can communicate my style through my designs while keeping both form and function in mind and to be able to adapt to what our clients want. I’ve been creative since I was younger and it’s something I will always continue to do.

Can you share a bit of what brought you into being a stationery designer? What’s that thing that attracted you in the first place?

At Paperlust I love that we get the community designers involved. I learn something new myself when I’m directing other creatives. Being a stationery designer means being able to design for specific events and styles so it’s always exciting to see styling trends and incorporate that into my own designs. And of course print and paper! Although I’m on my computer most of the time it’s so nice to see our designs come to life on beautiful paper stocks.

What do you do to keep yourself inspired when designing?

I always say nature, but I find inspiration in everything. I think other design fields really inspire me too, I watch a lot of architecture and interior design shows and look at layouts of editorial magazines.

That’s amazing! Can you name 3 Paperlust designs you love the most and why?

This is the hardest question! (Haha) I have so many favourites, but my top three would have to be BWM, Sophia Kaplan collab set which was for a collaboration with a Sydney florist, and my own Blanc Mode design because it looks so elegant in letterpress.

Last but not least, do you have anything to say to the fellow independent designers of Paperlust to support them during these days?

Keep designing! Keep being creative! even if it’s not in designing event stationery. We love seeing unique designs that really show personality because that’s what makes Paperlust unique too, this way we’re able to present a diverse range of designs to clients. Have fun and be yourself.

Chalkboard Wedding Invitations

Marble Style Wedding Invitations

Purple And Silver Wedding Invitations

Desert Wedding Invitations

Navy And Silver Wedding Invitations

Feather Wedding Invitations

Thank you so much for your time. You’re as lovely as your designs are!

The post A Day in Her Shoes: Shab, Paperlust Creative Director appeared first on Paperlust.

…

Hi Jamie! It’s really nice to see you today. We think that you’re very inspirational and we are glad to introduce you to our readers.

What do you usually do to kickstart your day when you arrive at Paperlust studio?

Since this interview is happening during the pandemic, I start my day by spraying at wiping down the studio and then turning on my computer to let my drive synch while I make myself a cup of matcha tea.

How long have you been in the industry? What’s the best part of working with brides to be?

I used to photograph weddings so I’ve been in the industry for about 7 years now? And I’ve been with Paperlust for five years, officially full-time three-ish years. I get quite excited about sharing paper and print knowledge with our customers, you leave here learning that there are about 500 different types of whites! I also enjoy when a customer comes in with a completely out of the box idea and challenges us in coming up with a way to get it printed while exceeding their expectations. Advice for the brides: If you have an idea that is not your standard printing, give plenty of time for your printers to test and trial haha

What do you usually do in your spare time at home?

I started yoga not too long ago and have dedicated an hour a day to that, other than that I play a lot of computer games – PC master race yeah! I play games such as dota, rust, and plenty of other mini games. I find that I always have work opened in the background in case that one customer needs something super urgent in the middle of the night or if I have a random creative urge to design.

Ah you can design as well? What’s your inspiration in designs?

Yeah, I learnt to design whilst working for Paperlust. Paperlust independent designers are so brilliant, I love looking at all the different types of designs coming through to us! I get inspired by the designs I see in the studio and think about how I can make something better and different, and that’s my inspiration. I try my best to create something unique every time, I’m really enjoying off centered, unaligned, weirdly space design which makes our creative director Shab question my sanity.

That’s amazing! We all know that Paperlust has tons of designs to choose from, can you mention 3 designs you love the most and why?

Lissom by Inggrid – The placement of text in this is just so well thought out. It reminds me of a beautifully planned architectural building.

Crosshatch by Milly – How can you not, it’s so simple, yet so luxurious! Just feel it! I’m a real sucker for blind letterpress.

Idoru by Jamie – Is it obnoxious to say that I like my own design? haha It’s my most recent design that hasn’t shown up much in orders yet which is probably why I still love it, haven’t had the opportunity to look at it as much.

…

What a great choice! We love those designs too. Thank you for your time, Jamie. Hope you have a great day working today!

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Why change our packaging?

Paperlust is pro-environmental so we made the switch as part of our commitment to waste reduction. The packaging product we chose is called Geami Wrappak Ex, developed by a European company called Ranpak that is committed to creating environmentally friendly packing solutions.

How does it work?

In order to make a change like this feasible for the business, it had to be equally as good, if not better, than our previous packaging (bubble wrap). This new environmentally friendly packaging known as Geami Wrappak Ex is made of recycled kraft paper that has been die cut. The kraft paper comes flat in large rolls and, once pulled, expands into a 3D honeycomb that acts as a layer of protection for the item.

What are the benefits of Geami Wrappak Ex?

There is really no downside to making the switch to die cut kraft paper. Here are some reasons we’re glad we did:

• First and foremost, we are reducing unnecessary plastic waste going to landfill. Our new packaging is both recycled and recyclable, making it overall more environmentally friendly.
• The dispenser is complimentary when you buy the packaging so there’s no extra set up costs.
• The roll and dispenser don’t take up much room so even a small office can accommodate it.
• You save money on sticky tape because when the kraft paper is stretched into a 3D honeycomb, it can interlock with itself to seal the package.
• It is more aesthetically pleasing than taped bubble wrap.

All in all, choosing the new recycled packaging paper has been a great choice for both us and the planet. We’re super excited and can’t wait for you to receive your next beautifully packed order in the mail!

The post Recycled Kraft Packaging is here! appeared first on Paperlust.

Steps:

1. Start with a square piece of paper, coloured side facing down. Fold horizontally and vertically, then unfold, so the crease creates four smaller squares
2. Fold bottom edge to the centre of bottom squares (a quarter of the way up the paper)
3. Flip paper along vertical edge (folded up bit still at the bottom, but no longer visible)
4. Fold the bottom corners to the centre vertical line
5. Flip paper
6. Fold top corners to the centre vertical line, creating a diamond shape
7. Fold top corner down to the bottom corner
8. Fold the triangles in along their inner edge
9. Fold top corners in to make a triangular shaped top
10. Flip paper over, and voila!

Now go love on your people!  If you’re interested in more clever DIY paper art ideas, check out our DIY origami flowers, DIY origami cake toppers, our favourite DIY origami flowers, and our Pinterest boards Paper Flowers and Paper Art, Origami + Creativity.

https://paperlust.co

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We’ve fallen in love with artists like Camilla Frances and Yulia Brodskaya for their colour and wedding invitation inspiration, but Beci Orpin has tickled our love of paper as art.

Gorman wall paper and bag design.

Gorman Tote.

Arro Home.

She has done projects with some of Melbourne’s favourite brands, people and spots: Gorman, VB Raw, Justine Clarke, Seven Seeds, Cookie, The Toff.

More recently, she’s developed her own range of homewares, Arro Home.

Inside Out magazine Feature Spread.

See more: http://blogs.homelife.com.au/insideout/article/our-new-sept-oct-issue-featuring-beci-orpin/

Over the last few years her work has appeared in publications likeThe Age, Frankie, The Design Files and Monster Children.This spread in Inside Out magazine teases you with the understated colour and fun that slips from Beci Orpin’s studio into her everyday life.

Gouche and Collage “Bear Portrait” and “Bird Portrait”, Melbourne Art Fair May 2010.

Collage “Home With Heart”, Inside Out Charity Auction June 2010.

Solo exhibition “In the Shadows”, Monster Children Gallery June 2007.

“The Infinite Shape of Rainbows”, Lamington Drive April 2010.

We especially love the art works by Beci Orpin that play with paper and colour. These works use paper with cut outs and gauche for a simple, beautiful effect.

If you want more of our latest Artist Crush Beci Orpin, check out her work, follow her on Instagram, or even buy some of her beautiful homewares. If you want to try your hand at some of Beci Orpin’s paper projects, try her range of books: Find and Keep, Make and Do, and Home.

See some more of our crushes here.

Images via: http://beciorpin.com/

https://paperlust.co/blog

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With paper, one of the most humble, unpretentious materials on earth, Kirsten explores a world of fantasy, luxury and extravagance. She designs meticulous polygonal shapes to form perfectly cut gemstones. The artist spoke with Huffington Post about her construction methods, noting that she creates a plethora of intricate “bits,” and then decides how to assemble. While the result looks quite organised and exact, she admits that it comes about in a very unplanned way. The process is very labour-intensive, involving repeatedly cutting, folding, glueing and occasionally, quilling.

Kirsten’s art form was born out of inspirational necessity. Upon moving to New York, she moved into a Brooklyn loft across the street from a string of pawn shops. She found the reality of the pawn shop economy, and the many Americans living in the “second economy” during tough economic times, quite depressing, and felt inspired to create a “Viewing Window” in her apartment. This was her first paper sculpture, and her way of solving the problems she saw out her window by decorating them.

Kirsten has held exhibits around the globe, and you can learn more about her work and latest movements on the artist’s website, here.

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