Asymmetry

Gagosian - Peyton

Wedding Invitation

Using a fixed plate, letterpress was the standard printing technique until the mid-20th century. The process allows for slight variations in pressure depending on the paper stock and design, enhancing the indentation in the artwork. This subtle textural difference adds a distinctive touch to elaborate invitations and event stationery. 

Ideal for printing text on thick stock and invitations, letterpress can handle boards up to 1200gsm. High-cotton-content papers are recommended for achieving deep impressions, as their soft and thick nature makes it easier to create the desired effect. This combination results in elegant, tactile pieces that truly stand out.

Having recently enjoyed a revival, letterpress is being chosen by designers and individuals seeking the artisan quality that it provides. The debossed finish is ideally suited to soft tactile materials.

Letterpress printing, fine relief printing. Letterpress printing is a form of relief printing, the type or image is placed on a raised surface like a stamp and pressed onto the material, creating an indented finish.

Letter Press from Mount street printers

Letterpress

Richard Mille

Wedding Invitation #1

Laser cutting differs from die-cutting in that a physical die or knife is not required and due to the accuracy of the laser a very fine cut-out can be achieved. It is however not economical for large runs, as it is time-consuming and it is important to note that the laser leaves a slight burn mark on the reverse side of the sheet.

Using lasers to intricately burn designs into the material, laser cutting offers precise patterns and shapes. This technique is ideal for etching lettering, floral motifs, or lace designs.

Laser-Cutting

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Fabergé

Similar to letterpress, foil-blocking begins by creating a metal plate of the desired artwork or text. This block is then heated and pressed onto a thin film of foil before transferring the foil onto the material beneath. It is a more economical alternative to engraving, however fine details in the design are better suited for engraving, as intricate details may fill in with foil. 

Using a wide range of foils from specialist suppliers such as Folico or Kurz, this process adds a beautiful layer of texture and a luxury feel to any bespoke work or stationery piece.

An effective way to incorporate rich, consistent colours, particularly metallics into your print projects, foil-blocking or hot-foiling is a similar process to letterpress. Instead of inks, foils are transferred onto the material by means of heat and pressure. 

Foil Blocking

Burberry

Westgrove Stationery

The engraving process starts by crafting a steel or copper die, etched either by machine or engraved by hand. Once mounted, the female die is meticulously inked and wiped clean, leaving ink only within the impression area. When pressed onto paper with immense force, it produces a beautifully raised, three-dimensional image with remarkable clarity. The intense pressure may create a subtle bruise on the paper's reverse side.

 The inks utilised in this process are renowned for their remarkable depth and vibrancy, with many containing up to 80% pigment. This allows light colours to pop on dark paper, such as white on black. For designs with multiple colours, each requires an individual die and a separate pass through the press. 

In our Acton production site, twelve vintage presses are operated by a skilled team of engraving craftsmen. We produce bespoke orders while also designing our in-house stationery collections which are available on our online shop.

A distinguished technique celebrated as the pinnacle of the printing industry. Commonly known as die-stamping, copperplate or intaglio printing, engraving achieves exquisite embossed detail that very few printing methods can rival.

Engraving

Chanel Invitation

The Twenty Two 

Halidrys

Thermography begins like many other printing processes, with flat litho-printing on a specific paper. While the ink is still wet, a powdered resin is dispersed over the image before running the paper through a heating unit, which melts the resin onto the surface. The result is a high-gloss finish with a texture that resembles soft wax or plastic. However, because uneven melting can occur, this technique is less suitable for solid printed areas or bold text.

A cost-effective alternative to engraving whilst also achieving a raised, textured effect. Unlike engraving, where the paper itself is raised, thermography raises only the printed image, preventing bruising on the back of the material.

Thermography

Axel Arigato - Invite

Ashill Regen Ltd.

Litho-printing is often regarded as more of a special method than digital printing due to its superior quality, colour accuracy, and tactile appeal. It is an ideal process for intricate designs and high-end materials that are available from suppliers such as G.F. Smith and Fedrigoni. 

With litho-printing, the image is expertly exposed onto plates, transforming the surface so that only the image areas repel water. During printing, the plates stay damp, allowing oil-based ink to cling exclusively to these areas, resulting in a crisp, clear image. 

At Mount Street Printers, we offer a wide range of colours and we can match specific Pantone references to replicate exact shades, ensuring your design is reproduced most accurately.

Utilising water-based inks, the principle behind lithography is that oil and water do not mix. The flat printing process is unlike digital print methods, which typically use toner.

Litho-Printing

Axel Arigato Booklet

Maison Estelle

Digital printing provides a variety of options based on your project's finishing needs. Depending on the print run size, lithographic printing may be more cost-effective for larger quantities. To elevate digital printing, we can introduce additional techniques such as foil blocking, engraving, or blind embossing.

With the use of toner, digital printing provides a flexible option to print coloured images onto materials. It is a fast and cost-effective solution for shorter runs. There are many benefits over litho-printing, such as instant drying and easy colour manipulation.

Digital

Sotheby's Invitation #2

Warner Music

The process closely resembles engraving while omitting the ink. Using only the machine's force, it creates impressions that highlight and shadow the typography or graphics. Blind stamping works beautifully on various papers and card stocks, producing sophisticated invitations and stationery that engage both the eye and touch. It is often combined with other printing methods, such as foil blocking or lithography, to produce striking results.

Using pressure alone, without ink, blind embossing and blind debossing create elegant, textured finishes on printed materials. Embossing raises the image above the paper's surface while debossing presses it into the material. 

Blind-Stamping

The Caviar Bar 

This technique is suitable for large runs and big cutting surfaces, as it is faster than laser cutting, and therefore more cost-effective. Especially popular for bespoke envelopes, where existing cutting knives can repeatedly be used, this technique helps your projects stand out. 

We have an extensive library of cutting knives which we always make available for our clients to use, whilst also offering the ability to create new custom shapes on request.

An alternative to laser cutting, die cutting allows for the creation of custom shapes and edges in small or large quantities. Unlike laser cutting, which can leave burn marks, die cutting creates a clean, sharp cut out for less intricate work.

Die-Cutting

The craft of envelope-making requires careful alignment to ensure durability and a precise fit for its contents. Standard features of envelope-making include custom sizes, flap styles, and adhesive options to seal the envelope securely, while bespoke envelope-making includes speciality techniques, like die-cutting or edge finishing, to achieve unique shapes and edges. At Mount Street Printers an array of options including paper choices, custom sizes and finishing touches, such as tissue lining are available to add sophistication and visual appeal to the finished product.

Not only do we produce all our envelopes in-house, but we also have the ability to machine-make envelopes in heavy-weight papers over and above what most envelope makers are capable of producing.

Envelope-making is an art form in its own right, requiring a particular skill set. The journey of an envelope, be it bespoke, hand-made or machine-made, starts with the process of designing the shape. Cutting, scoring, folding, glueing and finally gumming the paper are some of the steps required to create functionally elegant enclosures.

Envelope Making

Sotheby's Invitation #3

Traditionally, edge foiling involved gilding the edges of a card, using a shiny silver or gold foil. However, if a specific Pantone shade is required on your stationery edges, we can easily accommodate the request, to achieve subtle yet impactful results.

A finishing touch that involves gilding or inking the edges of material in a chosen foil shade or colour. To maximise the impact of edged invitations, one can bevel the edges to a 45-degree angle, ensuring that the finished edges are visible even from the front.

Edge-Styling

Splash Lab Sample Box

Royal Opera House

Box making is an important element within packaging and a skilled bindery team is required to make boxes, as much of the work is done by hand. Whether you're looking for a classic 'shoe-box' style with a lift-off lid or a sophisticated shape, a custom box can add a luxury feel to any project. 

We utilise a variety of materials from specialist suppliers such as Winter & Co to customise each order according to your specifications. With a focus on precision and quality, we execute your vision by creating packaging that is both functional and visually appealing.

Implementing different finishes and designs to ensure that every aspect of the packaging not only complements your project but also provides a unified presentation that aligns with your brand’s identity.

Packaging

Sotheby's Invitation

Binding is not just about functionality; it is about creating a tactile experience that encourages interaction. Whether you prefer the classic elegance of case binding, the flexibility of saddle stitching and singer sewing, or the refined simplicity of perfect binding, it will undoubtedly add a unique and memorable touch to your project. 

Our team carefully executes each binding method, ensuring precision and attention to detail throughout the entire process. The choice of materials—from high-quality covers to luxurious endpapers—can be customised to reflect your project’s identity and enhance its overall presentation.

Securing pages together can involve a multitude of different techniques. Assembling and securing pages of a book or printed material requires transforming individual sheets into a cohesive and functional product.

Foil Blocking

Creating the finish

Processes