Services

Process of Operation:

Artistry has been family owned and operated since 1955. Operating on the outskirts of Chicago we have endeavored to preserve the age-old tradition of copper and steel plate engraving and die stamping on a variety of stationary, invitations, promotional items and more.

Being a small operation enables us to take great pride in what we create, with keen attention to maintaining a careful, clean and organized work environment to ensure no speck of dirt, grime or any other foreign object interferes with the product's beauty. Every job, big or small, is hand-checked and any damaged sheets are removed and recycled. This guarantees the client will be given only the best print work we are capable of producing.

Products Offered

  • Corporate and Social Stationery

  • Personalized Stationery

  • Wedding Invitations

  • Flyers

  • Brochures

  • Calendars

  • Envelopes

  • Business Cards

  • Letterhead

  • Memo / Notepads

  • Postcards

  • Holiday Cards

  • Presentation Folders

  • Announcements

Printing

  • Engraving

  • Foil Stamping

  • Digital Printing

  • Offset Printing

  • Embossing

  • Debossing

  • Letterpress Printing

Finishing

  • Booklet Binding

  • Collating

  • Cutting

  • Die Cutting

  • Numbering

  • Perforation

  • Scoring and Slitting

  • Shrink Wrapping

  • Warehousing

  • Mounting

Printing a Job: FAQ's

Cost is largely determined by quantity, paper choice, & how many colors the image contains. (For example: 500 business cards engraved in black ink on 80# Cover is around $178.25.) Each printing process we employ requires specific techniques and materials making the price vary slightly from process to process. We have found that Letterpress Printing is comparable to Engraving prices. If you would like a more accurate price estimate please click here!
A new job takes 7 to 10 business days from receipt to final files and purchase order.
Native CC files or Quark files along with outlined EPS files work best but we can use PDF files as well. Please outline all final artwork containing fonts.
No. We require a PMS color or we can match a sample swatch that is at least one square inch of solid color.

The Engraving process will allow you to achieve reproduction of the smallest lettering and finest type, and use of metallic inks will add a touch of elegance to your design. If you choose to include a large solid design area, we will either need to apply a screen of use another process, such as Foil Stamping or Offset Printing, because Engraving inks have a tendency to “puddle / model” in the large solid areas.

The image area being Engraved is also a consideration. The largest image area that can be Engraved in one press pass is 5” x 9”. Larger areas can be engraved but require multiple press runs to be achieved. Multiple colors may be specified in the design. Large sheet sizes can be engraved but placement of image area is limited.

If you find yourself questioning wether or not your design can be Engraved and Die Stamped please do not hesitate to contact our Engraving department here at Artistry!

Engraving / Die Stamping / Letterpress

Die-Stamping is a method of printing where an etched copper or steel die is used, along with 2000 pounds of pressure per square inch, to push a sheet of paper or another surface into the etched grooves. Once the paper is stamped an embossed image, opposite of that etched into the copper / steel die, resides on the sheet. When printing with an inked die the raised image that is produced is commonly referred to as “engraved” but is actually called “Die-Stamped.” Samples of this can be found here!
Engraving is the act of scratching, scraping, or cutting into a surface. With the use of a graver one can cut figures or letter forms into metals, stones, or other hard substrates. The end result can then be inked & pressed into a sheet of paper using intense pressure, creating an image with a unique look & feel that no other printing process can replicate!
Engraving and Letterpress Printing have long been considered two specialty printing processes that produce a tactile feel and create an almost 3-D effect on a sheet of paper. Engraving, otherwise known as Die Stamping, is a raised print method where a sheet of paper is being pushed into an etched copper or steel plate transferring the ink from etched line to paper all while embossing the sheet. When your finger is rubbed across Engraved text you can feel the letterforms, lines, and illustrations popping off the page. Letterpress Printing is a relief print method where the surface of type is inked and then pushed into a sheet of paper transferring ink to paper and creating a de-embossed effect, depending on how hard the sheet is stamped. When you rub your finger across Letterpress Printed text you can feel the letterforms, lines, and illustrations receding into the page. Both printing processes have their strengths and weaknesses which are further elaborated on in the sections below.
Engraving:
  • Pros:
    • Well known for being able to produce extremely fine type and hairlines (0.03 point line and larger) all while maintaining a clean, crisp line that won't appear fuzzy, broken, or dull.
    • Inks are very opaque and will allow for light ink on dark stock, such as white ink on black or orange ink on navy blue without any color shifts occurring after ink has dried.
    • Metallic inks shine just as bright as foil stamping while maintaining the dimensional quality all their own and can be custom mixed to offer varieties of color.
    • Inks are water based and environmentally friendly.
    • Able to handle a larger sheet size than any other hand-fed printing process (with certain design restraints).
    • Possible on many different surfaces from vellum to cotton and canvas to chipboard.
    • PMS colors can be matched exactly.
    • Can be combined with any other printing processes.
  • Cons:
    • Does not handle large solid colors over 1" square. The resulting image tends to puddle in certain areas creating a textured look sometimes thought of as undesirable.
    • Can only handle a maximum image size of 5"x9".
    • Cannot be printed on some coated stocks
    • Please contact us here for additional help in choosing a print process that's right for you.
Letterpress Printing:
  • Pros:
    • Can handle large solid areas of color and can produce a smooth ink transfer to a sheet of paper.
    • Can handle a large image size up to 11"x17".
    • Works extraordinarily well with treeless (100% cotton) papers.
    • Able to handle sheet thicknesses up to .043 Caliper (inches).
    • Can be combined with any other printing process
  • Cons:
    • Has a hard time recreating fine hairlines (0.25 point line and below) due to the direct inking system present on each press.
    • Ink is not very opaque which allows paper show through. Due to this, printing light ink on dark stock poses a problem.
    • Maximum sheet size of 17" x 24".
    • PMS colors can often not be matched exactly depending on paper color.
    • Metallic inks do not shine bright due to paper absorption.
    • Please contact us here for additional help in choosing a print process that's right for you.