Wedding Invitations: Common Paper and Printing Terms

The paper you use for your wedding invitations speaks volumes and sets the tone for your entire event. Here, a list of common printing and paper terms to know when selecting wedding invitations.

Calligraphy -- A method used for addressing invites with a fancy, handwritten script.

Corrugated -- Paper designed with thick, rigged grooves.

Cotton -- Fibers used for creating invitations. Pricier because of it’s natural quality, cotton paper is generally used for formal events.

Die-cut -- Process used to cut shapes into paper.

Embossed Finish -- embossing or “pressing” images onto the surface of a card stock.

Engraving -- process where letters appear raised or etched into the paper.

Glossy -- Paper with a shiny, reflective finish.

Jacquard -- Paper with a layered effect.

Letterpress -- Similar to engraving, letterpress refers to when images or typeface appear “pressed” into the paper.

Linen -- Paper designed with a cross-weave texture. A popular example is resume paper.

Matte -- Paper with a flat, dull finish.

Moire -- Gets its namesake from the popular fabric.

Offset-printing -- Common (and basic) printing method. Offset-printing is generally with copy paper.

Parchment -- Paper created from animal linings. Gives an old-fashioned look and feel.

Rice Paper -- A lightweight paper stock with limited printing capabilities (it’s only used with letterpress).

Stock -- Term used to describe all paper types.

Thermography -- A widely-used method which is also a less-expensive alternative to engraving.

Typeface -- How letters and numbers are rendered on paper (fonts).

Variegated -- Term which describes the appearance varying colors in stock.

Vellum -- A smoother cotton-blend, less expensive than papers made of cotton fibers. Translucent vellum is a transparent paper used for overlays.

Watermark -- Subtle appearance of a company’s emblem blended within the paper.