How To Letterpress with Betterpress!

What Is Letterpress With BetterPress?

Learn how to letterpress with BetterPress.  What does that mean?  Spellbinders have developed a revolutionary system to achieve the same elegant, detailed imprinted results without a complicated set up or mess.

Letterpress is the oldest form of printing where letters were arranged on a frame, dipped in ink and then pressed onto the printing substrate to produce an impression. Letters were carved on the surface of wood, metal or stone to use on the printing press. The letterpress was used by hand, and this method was later replaced by typewriters and then modern-day printers. Accoring to Margaret Rouse at Techopedia, https://www.techopedia.com/definition/16307/letterpress.  But the results were exquisite.

And now, thanks to Spellbinders, we can effortlessly create rich, stunning stationery and cards.

Required Tools & Supplies

In addition to listing what you need to carry out this technique, I share my favorites in the form of affiliate links.  If you purchase something after clicking on one of these links I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.  Thank you for supporting my blog.

• 118lb Cotton Cardstock – Spellbinders BetterPress Cardstock
• BetterPress System – Spellbinders BetterPress System
• Die-cutting Machine – Spellbinders Platinum 6
• BetterPress Ink – Spellbinders BetterPress Regal Tones Ink

Steps To Letterpress with BetterPress

These instructions come straight from Spellbinders.  There are only four easy steps for professional results!

1. Using the plate that you want to use, place it onto the Chase (magnetic platform to hold the press plate) in the location that you want it to be on the card panel..  The chase is marked with A2 (4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″) and 5″ x 7″ dimensions so it makes it easy to place the plates where you want them to be.
2. Tape your Card Panel on the Platen (clear top plate with registration marks).  Fasten a card panel to the platen (the clear top plate) using craft tape. You must fasten it well to keep from transferring ink that might have gotten on the chase to your card panel.
3. Apply Ink onto Press Plate.  After you ink the plate, wipe up any ink you get on the Chase to make sure that it doesn’t transfer to your card panel.
4. Make Letterpress Sandwich and run through the manual die-cutting machine.  The sandwich consists of the Chase on the bottom with the press plates on it and the Platen on top with the cardstock inbetween it and the press plates.

Spellbinders have produced a number of really great videos related to BetterPress that I refer to often.  I recommend that you check them out over on the Spellbinders’ Website.

The Versatility Of The BetterPress System

One of the things that I love about the BetterPress System is the many different ways that you can use it to get different results.  For example, you can blend or watercolor the Betterpress cotton cardstock before you press the images to get a colored background.  Or, you can use any color of the rainbow that you have in your cardstock chase for different options.

And then, there are the new Registration press plates that Spellbinders have just come out with that you can use different color inks with to achieve beautiful results.