Types of Printing

■	Lithography (flat printing) - an impression is made with a rubber cylinder and is transferred to the paper stock. The printing is flat, and not raised in any way.
■	Digital - the process in which an image is sent directly to a printer using digital files, eliminating the need for a printing plate, which saves money and time. It lends itself to faster turnaround times, smaller runs, and is less expensive than other printing processes.
■	Thermography (raised printing) - a printing process in which a special embossing powder is applied to the ink printed on the invitation. The invitation is heated to dry the powder and ink combination and form raised images and type.
■	Embossing - process of imaging a 3-D image on paper stock.
■	Blind Embossing - a process in which no ink is used. The images are etched into metal plates and leave an impression on the paper stock. This process is often used for borders, monograms, and return addresses.
■	Letterpress - the oldest printing process in which a reversed, raised surface is inked and then pressed into paper to obtain a positive right-reading image