The Collection Guide

about Our paper & printing

The Collection Guide will help you navigate our Semi-Custom Collection process and the customization options available. Please read and refer to this guide while preparing to submit your invitation order.

Lime & Lily is committed to bringing you superior quality invitations using timeless printing methods on the best papers.

Our luxury stock is a specially milled cotton composite from Arzberger. It is decidedly thicker than standard social cards and envelopes in the wedding marketplace. I chose to work with Arzberger after a bride sent me some of their envelopes for her invitation calligraphy. Not only was it the nicest paper I’d ever held in my hand, it was also the most gorgeous I’d ever written on for pointed pen calligraphy. I immediately asked where she had gotten the luxurious envelopes. After some research into their company, I contacted Arzberger and am thrilled to have been given the opportunity to team up with them as a paper and printing partner. Click here to find out more about their craftsmanship, outstanding customer service and top of the line paper and printing.

Printing Methods

digital printing

Digital prints artwork smoothly on the paper, with no raised or indented impression. If you run your fingers over it, you’ll only feel the slight texture of the paper itself. Digital printing is also known as flat printing. This print process is good for multi-color artwork such as watercolors.

thermography

Thermography simulates the raised appearance of engraving without the use of metal engraving plates. Ink is applied directly to the paper and a fine powder is applied. It passes under a heating element creating a raised effect. Thermography inks are translucent and can be affected by the color of the paper.

letterpress

A plate is made and the design is debossed into the paper creating an indented image. Rollers dispense ink onto the raised artwork on the plate and the plate is then pressed into the paper. Letterpress ink is somewhat translucent and is affected by the color of the stock on which it is used.

foil stamping

Foil stamping is when a heated metal plate is pressed against foil film to transfer the design to the paper. It creates a slightly debossed effect where the plate pushes into the paper. It is similar to letterpress, but foil is applied instead of ink. Foil is most commonly used when a reflective, metallic finish is desired.

engraving

Designs are etched onto metal plates with extreme precision, then stamped onto hand-fed pieces of paper. The resulting image is raised and highly detailed, with a visible impression on the back of the paper. This “bruise” is considered a mark of quality . Engraving ink is opaque, yielding crispness in even the tiniest details.