There are so many options for printing, we know it can be overwhelming! You can upload the files to an online printing service, use your local print shop, print at a copy shop, or of course print the invitations out yourself.
To use an online printing service:
We can format invitations for many online printers. Just let us know which one you are going to use and we will adjust the design to meet their specifications so you can easily send it in to them. Here are some popular choices:
GreenerPrinter (eco-friendly)
Mercurio Brothers
GotPrint
Cards and Pockets (please note that their default rsvp's are smaller than our standard size—email us with any questions about this)
To use a local print shop:
The benefit of using a local professional print shop is that you can choose very heavy cardstock, and you know that the quality of printing will be very high. Contact print shops in your area and ask what their rates are. We can format your cards to match the printer's specifications.
Printing it at a copy shop:It's very easy to have our designs printed at a copy shop such as Kinko's, Staples or OfficeMax. We suggest contacting the copy shop to find out the heaviest paper they can handle, as the heavier the cardstock the more attractive the invitation! You should always test out a pdf on the paper of your choice.
Printing it yourself:
The first thing you want to do is test out your printer on good quality paper, similar to what you want to use in the end—you can download test pdf's by going to the bottom of our How it Works section. Also find out whether your printer can print on different sizes of paper, such as 5" x 7", and whether it can print to edges. Make sure your printer is set to its most high-resolution setting, sometimes called "high quality photo", and that it is set to print same size (rather than scale to fit).
If you are the kind of person who is handy with an exacto knife or a papercutter, you can easily cut the paper yourself. To make a 5" x 7" invitation you will need to make 6 cuts, like this:
If you would rather leave the trimming to a professional, ask your local print shop or copying center for their rates. These are generally very cheap. Make sure you take in a sample and see if they are able to cut accurately before you commit to them.
Printing in letterpress:
Many of our designs are letterpress compatible, just ask us which ones you are interested in! We can format for letterpress for an additional $20, separating everything into layers for your printer. If you need a recommendation for a good letterpress company just let us know, we are in contact with several!
Paper
One benefit of printing stationery yourself is being able to choose among many beautiful papers and textures. We suggest cardstock, which is sometimes called cover paper or 80 lb.+ paper. It has a great weight and feel, and can be fed individually through many printers. Here are some reputable (and affordable) sources. And consider going green—recycled paper and paper made from hemp or bamboo often have lovely textures! You can order samples from any of these companies, to test out the colors and print-quality (click on the names to go to their website):
Paper and More
Papersource
Cards and Pockets
Treecycle
