Debossing Cards

[Sprodj]

I wrote out this year's cards and it was a nightmare. I'm thinking about debossing copperplate into next year's Christmas Cards.

Are there any tutorials on how I could do this efficiently and at low cost? It's only going to be ~400 cards.

[tintenfuchs]

Pay a printer who specialises in this sort of thing?

[Bianca M]

I second paying a printer.  It sounds like you'll want to scan in and possibly vectorize your calligraphy- I know there have been threads on this in here, so perhaps you can do a search for that to get you started?  As far as the debossing part itself... are you looking for letterpress?  Most letterpress printers require a vectorized file, but some will take a bitmap file.  Lines typically need to be .35pt minimum, something to consider with regards to your hairlines.  Scanning in at a higher threshold can help this if necessary. 

I know there are those DIY letterpress kits from Paper Source, etc. but my understanding is that they produce poor results.  And 400 cards might be a bit much for the kit.  I'll bet someone in here has tried it out- might be worth searching for threads on that, too. 

[jeanwilson]

Try Reaves Engraving. Their prices are very reasonable and I think you can just send them the line art and they will convert it for you.

[Sprodj]

Thanks for your suggestions folks. I'm not averse to paying others to do things. I just prefer it when I do everything even if the result is a little below what they could provide.  Last year I hand-made a Christmas ornament, then took a picture of said ornament. Printed it and my own calligraphy (heavily inspired by Paul's) onto cardstock and sent those out. It lacked that little oomph that debossing might provide.

I wont be vectorizing, because, IMO copperplate loses its "soul". I did high-res scans last year and they turned out quite nicely.

I'll check out Reeves when I'm in NC early next year.

Cheers!

[Bianca M]

I second Jean's recommendation for Reaves.  Their prices are great and so is their work.  I've had two engraved pieces done by them and have samples of their letterpress work.  Pricing is online.  I've also sent them my own stock before, but only because I wanted a colored stock. 

I get excellent vector results when I use my precariously installed version of Illustrator CS4, but the more current versions (I think post-CS5) are terrible. I use CC for everything except for vectorizing but keep CS4 for that one task.  But, I do know what you mean!  There is a certain delicateness that gets lost (then again, letterpress plates can't often even hold those delicate lines).