Printing Techniques
Letterpress - Engraving - Thermography
Foil Blocking & Blind Embossing

Letterpress Printing
This is the method used by Johann Gutenberg to print his famous Bible in 1450. By firmly pressing inked letters onto a single sheet of paper, the type sinks into the surface creating that clear, dense and debossed image on the page. Gutenberg would feel quite at home in our shop, we use the same basic methods as he did more than 550 years ago although we now also have the help of the computer and polymer plates which allows us to letterpress print almost any design or copy that you can come up with.

Engraving
Invented about the same time as the printing press, engraving uses a copper plate or steel dies which have been etched either by hand or chemicals, to produce a negative image. The durable metal affords an exquisite level of detail. By firmly pressing a single sheet of paper onto the plate, the type rises from the surface creating a piece that is second to none.

Piccolo's clients for engraved stationery include members of the Royal Household, The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London Livery Companies, The Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force, and foreign diplomats, as well as corporate and private clients. We are delighted to give advice on this very specialised subject. We have the only four diestamping presses in Scotland.

Thermography
While engraving is unrivalled for quality work, thermography, if done with care and skill, can be a great alternative.. The result looks very like engraving, but costs less. This is achieved by sprinkling resin on the printed sheet whilst the sheet is still wet and then subjecting the sheet to heat. The resin fuses with the ink and raises the printed matter above the paper surface. Piccolo Press uses a special matt thermographic method which does not give a 'plastic effect' and is widely used on diplomatic and personal invitation cards.

Foil Blocking and Blind Embossing
The hot foil process is ideal for folders, cards and promotional items. Blind embossing, where the image is sculptured onto the paper with a die that raises the paper surface, is very distinctive. It can be used to give relief and distinction to any piece.

click here to view a short film
to see how it all works
(film is 5 minutes long)