Alternative1930s
Thermography
Raised, glossy ink—the business-card classic.
Wet ink is dusted with thermographic resin powder, then heat-fused to swell into a raised, glossy surface mimicking engraving.
Sprinkle resin powder on wet ink, then heat it. The powder melts and puffs up into raised, glossy text.
- ▸Cheap way to fake the look of engraving for business cards.
- ▸Powder only sticks to wet ink, so the rest brushes off.
- ▸Heat is what makes it puff and shine.
History
Developed in the early 20th century as a low-cost alternative to copperplate engraving. Standard for wedding stationery and corporate cards through the 1990s, still used widely today.
Process
- 01
Print artwork wet via offset or letterpress.
- 02
Dust resin powder onto wet ink; shake off excess.
- 03
Pass under an infrared heater.
- 04
Resin melts and swells, fusing to ink.
- 05
Cool to a glossy, raised finish.
Strengths
- +Looks engraved at a fraction of the cost
- +Tactile finish
Limitations
- −Only works on solid ink
- −Can melt under further heat
- −Not archival like true engraving
Sources & citations
References for the history and process described above.
- 01Thermography Printing — Encyclopædia Britannica
- 02Raised Print Methods — Smithsonian National Postal Museum