FAQs (Letterpress)

What’s your minimum run?

We have a minimum order of $350 for letterpress orders. Quantity can vary depending on specifics of the order.

Are there any limitations I should look out for?

Letterpress works best when printing an ink darker than the paper stock. Letterpress inks are transparent in nature, so limitations between certain ink and paper combinations exist. For instance, print yellow ink on black paper, and it virtually disappears. But printing black ink on yellow paper looks great. If you’re looking for a light ink on a dark stock, like white printing on black, you might explore foil.

Large floods or solids are also not recommended, as they are difficult to keep consistent and the ink will often break up or have a noisy “dusty” quality to it. If this is your desired effect, then go for it! We are always a fan of prints that embrace the letterpress look. If you are hoping that your ink comes out 100% solid and opaque, then you may consider screen printing instead.

Can you foil stamp?

Yes we can! This is a great way to achieve metallics and lighter printing on darker stock.

Foils come in both matte and shiny finishes, making your options and applications very versatile.

If you have questions about different types and colors, send us an email with your specifications and we are happy to make a recommendation that matches the look you are going for.

What are the most common sizes?

Letterpress is traditionally used for smaller format items such as invitations, greeting cards, business cards, and stationery. Below is a list of common sizes in these categories.

Business cards:

• Standard Business cards are 3.5 x 2”

It is possible to print business cards in custom sizes. Please just let us know what size you are thinking about and we will advise to the best of our knowledge.

Invitations, Greeting Cards & Stationery Standards:

• No. 10 - Envelopes are 4.12” x 9.5” and fit your typical 8.5 x 11” sheet of paper

• A7 - Envelopes are 5.25” x 7.25” and fit your standard 5x7” invitation, art print, or greeting card.

• A6 - Envelopes are 4.75” x 6.5” and fit a standard 4.5 x 6.25” greeting card.

• A2 - Envelopes are 4.37” x 5.75” and fit a standard 4.25 x 5.5” greeting card.

• A1 - Commonly called 4 Bar Envelopes, these are 3.62 x 5.12” and fit a standard 3.5 x 4.875” RSVP card.

• Square - Envelopes are 6 x 6” and fit a standard square item 5.75 x 5.75”

• Booklet - Envelopes are 6 x 9” and fit a standard 5.5 x 8.5 manual or booklet.

• Catalog - Envelopes are 9 x 12” and fit a standard 8.5 x 11” sheet(s) of paper.

What papers can I print on? What does House Stock mean?

House stock are papers that we stock in-house. These are ready to go as soon as you place your order. Currently our house letterpress stocks are Crane’s Lettra in 220# Double Thick Cover and 110# Single Ply Cover, both in the Fluorescent White (a pure white) and Pearl White (a more natural white). Crane’s Lettra is a high quality, 100% cotton-based letterpress paper. It allows for great ink application as well as impression, and is our go-to for this reason.

We also print regularly on French Paper. French Papers have a slight tooth (although not as much as the Lettra) and are available in a myriad of colors. French offers sample packs if you would like to see any of their papers in person. This is your best bet if you are looking for colored stock. 

Regardless of paper choice, we recommend printing on at least 100# Cover for letterpress pieces. Thinner papers limit the amount of impression that can be applied and can have detrimental effects on front to back printing. If you are looking for a good amount of impression, we may recommend duplexing paper together to achieve a thicker stock. Remember, the thicker the stock, the more impression it can take.

What does duplexing mean?

Duplexing is gluing two sheets of paper together to create a thicker stock. We might recommend, for example, duplexing two 100# Cover sheets of French stock and to create a 200# sheet. The thicker the paper, the more impression we can hold. This also works in scenarios where you are wanting black paper on one side and white paper on the other.

We generally recommend staying within the same brand and cover weight between the two sheets to minimize paper curling. This can happen when there is a discrepancy between weights or paper grains.

What finishing services do you offer?

We can perforate, score, and die cut on our letterpresses.

• Perforate - Perf blade is used to punch tiny holes in paper to allow a section to be removed or detached.

• Score - A scoring blade can be applied to any setup to crease the paper, making folding consistent and easy. The spine of a greeting card is scored.

• Die Cut - Any shape can be cut out of a piece of paper, within limitations of the process. Coasters are circle die cut, for example.

• Edge Painting - Painting the edge of a letterpress piece a custom color, most commonly used in business cards. See below for more info.

Can you edge paint? Anything I should watch out for?

Absolutely. This is a common request on business cards. It easily adds an extra oomph to your piece.

We mix all edge paints by hand, which allows us to match almost any custom color.

When choosing a project to edge paint, you’ll want to avoid any printing that goes completely to the edge of the card. This can cause inconsistencies in the final cut edge and could allow paint to seep in to the face of the card when it’s in a stack getting painted.

For projects requesting multiple different edge colors, each color is treated as its own setup.

What is the largest size you can letterpress?

Our shop is equipped with 10x15” Heidelberg Windmills for letterpress printing. That means the maximum sheet size it can feed is 10x15”. The maximum print area is 8.5 x 11”, working with a photopolymer base. Be cautious with letterpressing at this maximum size, as you are pushing the limitations of the machine.

CMYK? RGB? Huh?

Setting your file to CMYK mode will give you the closest simulation of how your colors will translate to the finished product. CMYK mode is meant to simulate spot color printing, ink on paper, whereas RGB is a color mode meant for computer screens. The saturation available in RGB mode is often unattainable in real life. This discrepancy is most noticeable in transparent layers, or colors that are created from two transparent colors multiplying together.

If you submit your file with unrealistic RGB colors, we may send it back over set as CMYK so we’re all on the same page.

How do I choose colors? (Color References and Pantone Books)

For Letterpress printing, we primarily use Pantone calibrated inks. They are durable, oil-based, dry with a great finish, and allow us to mix to industry specifications.

If desired, we are happy to match to supplied Solid Uncoated Pantone numbers. This book is the most representative of the letterpress process as we are printing on uncoated stock. We recommend against referencing Solid Coated references as we cannot achieve the saturation and “glossy” look of ink printed on coated paper.

We cannot stress this enough, DO NOT rely on color swatches found within Adobe programs, or found on the internet. These are rarely accurate. Even between Coated and Uncoated books, specific numbers can vary greatly (a 109U is not at all comparable to 109C, for example). Please ONLY reference Uncoated swatches if you have an Uncoated book in front of you.

If you do not feel comfortable choosing your own Pantones, we find the best success matching to your provided computer file by eye. To be completely honest, this is how we approach most projects. It allows us to tweak your colors slightly based off of paper color and value relationships to create the best looking piece possible.

Please remember that this is a hand made process that requires the craft, skill and experience of the pressman. Our pressmen have years of color mixing under their belt, but this is still a process that relies on human interaction. Even Pantone swatches can vary based on the age and use of the book as well as lighting conditions and the color of paper that you are printing on. We continually update our Pantone books and match all swatches under Pantone calibrated lighting, but be advised that these do not always match our clients’ viewing conditions. Colors are called “references” for a reason, and cannot be guaranteed to match 100%.

When do I need to send art by to hit my in-hand date?

Yesterday! Just kidding. But the sooner we have final artwork, the sooner we can start on your job. Our typical turnaround time is 15-20 business days for letterpress pieces, from the moment we have a deposit and approved art. Timelines are discussed during the quoting process, as there are many factors that work into the lettepress process (ordering specialty papers, dies, plates, etc.). We cannot be held liable for missing a deadline due to delays in receiving artwork. We pride ourselves on completing projects in a timely and accurate manner, so please communicate any hard deadlines in your quote request.

I need my prints NOW!!!!

That’s not a question. But sure! If a job needs completed sooner than our normal turnaround time, appropriate rush fees (anywhere from 10-30%) may apply. Rush jobs are taken at our discretion, and must be paid in full before they leave our studio. We cannot be held liable for missed deadlines due to incomplete payment.

Can we see a printed proof before you run the whole job?

Due to the amount of setup involved, we do not offer printed proofs. If you have any questions regarding your print before it goes to press, feel free to reach out with any concerns. We often have samples we can send pictures of with techniques similar to what you are using in your own print.

Can I come by while my job is on press? Or just for a studio tour?

Sure! You’re always welcome to come by as long as you’re willing to work around our schedule. We schedule jobs sometimes weeks in advanced, so we can’t hold up printing once your job’s ready to go.

All other studio visits are by appointment only. Please reach out to info@vahallastudios.com with any appointment inquiries.

I don’t have final art yet. Can I still get a quote?

Possibly! Letterpress quotes can be tricky, as there are so many different factors that can work into the printed piece. We are happy to give ballpark estimates for your project based on provided specifications, but please know that estimates are subject to change once we see finalized artwork.

Ok, I’m ready to send a job through, but not sure I set up my file right. Any tips?

Yep! Please read through these file prep tips below for setup advice. If you have any questions not addressed here, please reach out to us at info@vahallastudios.com.

Preparing Your File for Press

File Formats

Our preferred file types are Adobe Illustrator, Illustrator compatible PDF, or high resolution Photoshop file. Our entire studio uses the most up-to-date version of Adobe’s Creative Cloud, allowing us to work with your file no matter what version of Creative Suite it was created in.

For Photoshop files, we ask that your resolution be at least 300dpi. For type and hand-drawn elements, we have found that files in the range of 600dpi result in cleaner edges.

Preparing Your File for Press

As a general guideline, all type should be laid out in vector format, whether this is in Illustrator, or left as a smart object within a Photoshop file. This allows us a cleaner film output, resulting in a cleaner print. We ask that any typefaces or strokes used are outlined and expanded, ensuring that there is no change between how the file displays on your computer versus ours. Additionally, if your file contains any linked files or typefaces, please include those in your art submission.

For full bleed images, please allow at least 1/8” bleed on all sides. And always make sure that you are submitting your art scaled to the size that you are wanting printed.

If possible, separate each color onto its own layer before submission. This is a good simulation of how your project will print and makes setup easier on our end.

Failure to deliver within these guidelines can result in increased turnaround time.

Providing an Accurate File

We’ve found it best to receive files that looks like the way you want it printed. For example, if your print is on a nice kraft paper stock, don’t send it over with a white background. This helps us avoid any discrepancies and gives us a better idea of what you are hoping the final product looks like.

Spot Color Printing, Halftones, Gradients, and Photoshop Effects

Spot color printing is relatively simple in that the color is either printing or not. Because of this, gradients and Photoshop effects often times do not translate well.

There are ways to simulate gradients and multiple values with the screen printing process through halftones or bitmap textures. A similar technique applies to photographic images. We do not have a set standard of what halftone or dither settings work best across the board; different designs may call for different techniques, so we ask that if this is part of your process, contact us and we will work with you to create the best translation of your design to the process.

Bleed and Trapping

Bleed and trapping are a must with spot color printing. While we use the most advanced presses and film output machines available, these processes are not perfect, and they never will be. Our press registers very true, and our press operators have years of experience, but every one of them will tell you that a job that has been set up well is much easier to print than a job that contains too little trapping or too tight of bleeds. We suggest that designers embrace the fact that this is a hand made process and craft that takes years to perfect. Allow for bounce, paper expansion, and any other slight variations that may occur during the print process and your prints will come out fantastic.

With that being said, we ask that you do not set up any trapping on your own without discussing it with us first. While the concepts are the same for most forms of screen printing, many printers have their own tendencies or preferences when it comes to file setup. Nobody is right or wrong, often it comes down to the preferences of the pressman and the logistics of the project. We, like most printers, prefer to set up the files ourselves so that our team has a better understanding of how your print works. Our employees are very experienced in file preparations, and we will do our best to set up your art in a way that results in the most successful prints possible.

We do, on occasion, work with artists who have plenty of experience setting up their own files. You know who you are! If this is the case, we’ll still give your separations a good look-over before they make it to press, to ensure that everything is a-okay. Our typical printing estimate includes one to two hours of art preparations; anything longer is handled on a case by case basis and may result in additional art separation fees.

Additional Questions

Have questions about anything not covered here? Email us at info@vahallastudios.com for more information.

Terms & Conditions

Vahalla Studios strives to bring the highest quality screen printing & letterpress services to our customers. In order to do so we have established the following terms to give you the best results.

Production

All jobs must be initiated with a quote request. Our Terms & Conditions must be agreed to before your project begins.

Turnaround Time

Turnaround times can vary depending on our current workflow and will be communicated during the quoting process. Once an estimate is sent, we typically hold that schedule slot for two business days, after which we may release that schedule date to another client. Please understand that all turnaround times are subject to the many variables associated with the handmade process, however we pride ourselves on completing projects in a timely and accurate manner in regards to your requests and will communicate any delays that arise that are outside our control. Delay on receiving deposit, or change in color count, quantity, etc. that affects production time may affect your in-hand date.

International Shipping

Clients are responsible for generating and supplying shipping labels for any international print orders. Once your job is complete, we will provide you with weights and dimensions of the box(es) ready to ship, and you must generate labels for us to put on the boxes (we generally use DHL or FedEx for our own international orders). We are happy to help you navigate this process. The client must be responsible for paying any import/export fees and/or reporting taxes required by the country you are shipping to. We cannot be held liable for any additional charges or shipping delays for international orders.

Rush Fees

If a job is needed sooner than our normal turnaround time, rush fees may be charged according to how quickly the job needs be completed. This can range anywhere from 10-30%, and both pricing and press availability is at our discretion.

Payment

All projects must be paid in full prior to shipment of the final product. Jobs with a total invoice below $500.00 US must be paid in full to secure production position on our print schedule. Projects over $500.00 US will require a 50% deposit to secure the production time, and the remaining 50% is due to before the job leaves our facility. The deposit is non-refundable if the job is canceled but can remain as a credit with our studio for future orders. Payment is required in full to begin any rush projects. We do operate on net terms with clients who qualify for such production. Please inquire to info@vahallastudios.com to discuss these details.

Artwork Ownership

By accepting these terms, you are agreeing that you have full ownership of and permission to produce any artwork that you submit for production, and that it is properly licensed when necessary. We cannot be held liable for any copyright violations, cease and desists, or any other legal issues stemming from unauthorized or unlicensed artwork.

Shipping

We use UPS as our default carrier. We package orders to a very high standard to avoid any damage during transit. It should be understood that accidents and delays do happen. We cannot control delivery peoples’ actions, nor can we control the weather or traveling conditions. If damage occurs, please inspect the package immediately upon arrival and contact us immediately so we can submit a damage claim. If your project HAS to be delivered by a certain date, we may recommend shipping with a more guaranteed service, like a Next Day or 2nd Day Air. This can result in increased shipping costs, but we’re happy to ship this way if your project needs.

Since we are located in the middle of the country, the longest ground shipment we experience is 3-4 business days. You should receive a tracking email link once your prints leave our ship.

Pricing

Vahalla Studios has the right to change pricing and price jobs accordingly at any time without notice.

Disclaimer

Vahalla Studios LLC has the right to refuse business to anyone. Not all quote requests submitted will turn in to jobs. We reserve the right to take on work or not. Our letterpress machines are over 60 years old so please have patience if we experience a plate breakage or equipment failure during production. We put forth our best effort to make sure your job is completed accurately and in a timely manner.

Online Store Orders

Items purchased from the Vahalla Store are shipped out within 2-3 business days via USPS First Class Mail. Please allow up to 5 days for any delays in the Postal Service.

Due to increased shipping times and costs, we are not currently offering international shipping.

All online store sales are final with exception to proof of items damaged in transit. No returns on international orders.