Letterpress Printing and Ink
Are you fluent in Pantone? I mix small batches of ink for each job and when we’re speaking the same color language uncertainties seem to fall away.
Pantone Matching System (PMS)
I custom mix almost all of my inks based on the formulas found in the Pantone Solid Uncoated swatch book. I do my very best to match the colors that you specify but I do ask you to keep a few things in mind:
- The Pantone system was developed for modern offset lithography, which lays ink down very differently than a letterpress printing press.
- Letterpress printing requires a lot of human interaction, meaning there is a good chance of slight variability from piece to piece.
- Lighting will effect how the color is perceived. Our print shop is set up with "daylight" fluorescent lighting. It is under these lighting conditions that I mix and proof my ink and final prints. The colors will very likely look different under different lighting conditions.
- The color of the paper will have an effect on the perception of the ink. The letterpress printing process lays ink down in a very thin layer and there may be an unintended color shift when printing on colored paper stocks.
I do everything I can to minimize the effects of the above aspects; matching the final product as close as possible to the Pantone colors you request.
Metallic Ink
Do not expect a shiny appearance when requesting a metallic ink on an uncoated stock like Lettra, Somerset, or Savoy, to name a few. If your design calls for a shiny metallic finish then foil stamping is what you're looking for (a service I do not offer at this time). What you will get when I print with a Pantone Metallic ink is a metallic tone with a hint of shimmer to it. Take a look at the metallic page in the back of your Pantone Solid Uncoated book to get an idea of what you could expect.
No Ink (or Blind Deboss)
This technique will give you just an impression without any ink. I have found that a better overall effect can be achieved by running a varnish instead of running a true, no ink, blind deboss. This will give the impression a very subtle enhancement, very slightly altering the color of the paper, giving the impression a little more presence.
