About Letterpress

Letterpressed with Love in San Diego

At Elum Designs, our passion for letterpress printing comes to life in our San Diego, California studio. Here, we embrace time-honored craftsmanship with a modern touch, using a collection of vintage mid-century Heidelberg letterpress machines to create our signature stationery and greeting cards. Our studio features four remarkable Heidelberg letterpress machines: two cylinder presses and two windmill presses, each carefully maintained by our pressmen to produce exquisite results. Our studio is also home to a vintage Heidelberg foil stamping press, enabling us to add luxurious metallic accents to our designs. Every piece we produce is printed with care and love, ensuring exceptional quality and a connection to this timeless craft.

Sustainable Impressions

Our commitment to sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. We use soy-based inks, which offer a superior alternative to traditional petroleum-based inks. Soy-based inks produce richer, more vibrant colors while being gentler on the environment. They release fewer volatile organic compounds during production, contributing to cleaner air and a healthier planet.

We also print on 100% cotton rag paper, a tree-friendly material made from reclaimed cotton fibers. This luxurious paper is soft to the touch, incredibly durable, and the perfect canvas for our intricate letterpress designs. Together, these choices reflect our dedication to creating beautiful, eco-friendly products with minimal environmental impact.

Continuing the Tradition of Letterpress

Letterpress printing is one of the oldest printing techniques, originating in the 15th century with the invention of movable type by Johannes Gutenberg. For centuries, it was the primary method of printing books, newspapers, and other materials. Today, letterpress is cherished for its unique aesthetic and tactile quality, offering a connection to a rich history of craftsmanship and artistry.

But letterpress printing is more than a technique; it is an art form that combines beauty, texture, and tradition. Unlike modern digital printing, which applies ink on the surface of the paper, letterpress involves pressing a raised printing plate into the paper, leaving a subtle indent that you can see and feel. This tactile impression adds a dimension of depth and character that sets letterpress apart.

Every print is a testament to the craftsmanship and skill required to balance soy-based inks, precise pressure, and premium cotton rag paper. Our tree-friendly paper allows the design to come alive with crisp, vibrant details and a luxurious feel. Whether it’s the intricate lettering on a thoughtfully designed greeting card or a piece from our stationery collection, each creation tells a story and makes a lasting impression.

Why Letterpress Matters

In an age of mass production, letterpress printing offers a return to authenticity and artistry. The process is meticulous and time-intensive, with each piece carefully printed by hand. This ensures that no two prints are exactly alike, imbuing every item with its own unique charm. At Elum, we take pride in continuing this centuries-old tradition, combining it with our modern, design-forward aesthetic to create products that are as meaningful as they are beautiful.

Explore the world of letterpress printing with Elum and experience the unmatched craftsmanship, eco-friendly practices, and timeless beauty that go into every design.