One thing to look for with letterpress invitations is the level of impression. Many "fine" printers claim that proper letterpress should not indent the page. The problem with this, is how else will someone know it is letterpress? Many feel, myself included, that ink just sitting on top of the page is much less expressive than ink slightly impressed into the paper.

The type of paper used is another important factor in letterpress printing. Thick cotton papers take an impression exceptionally well, while thinner, harder papers do not impress much at all. Generally with wedding invitations the choice of paper has almost as much effect on the receiver as the choice of design. Some letterpress invitation makers only stock one type of paper, which they feel is "best". Others will stock many different lines to allow the customer to choose. If you are thinking of ordering your invitations online, remember to ask the company to send extra samples of paper options along with any full invitation samples you order.

The inks used in letterpress printing are similar, and sometimes the exact same, as offset printing inks. The three main types are rubber based, oil based, and soy oil based. Rubber based inks are preferred by some printers because they dry slower, and are therefore less likely to dry on the press if the printer needs to take a break (like going to lunch). Oil based inks are the age-old traditional printing inks used around the world, they are pretty much the standard. Soy Oil based inks substitute 20% or more soy oil for petroleum based oils in the ink. Since soy is a renewable resource, this is a small but important step that can be made in preserving our environment and reducing (if ever so slightly) our dependence on foreign energy sources. All three of these inks are capable of printing in brilliant colors and matching almost any known color with the Pantone Color Matching System. Our company uses Soy based inks from Gans.